The announcement on Wednesday marks a significant setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the October 27 election amid historic gains by Arab-led political parties.
Herzog called on political leaders to accept the outcome and focus on forming a government.
“The elections are over. Now is the time to face reality,” the president declared.
The election produced a deeply divided 120-member Knesset, with neither Netanyahu’s governing coalition nor the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot securing the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.
Netanyahu’s coalition won 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s bloc secured 48. Meanwhile, the Arab-led Ra’am and Joint List parties made historic gains, capturing a combined 19 seats.
The results have opened the door to several possible coalition arrangements, including a potential partnership between Netanyahu and Eisenkot or an alliance involving Eisenkot and the Arab-led parties.
Herzog began meeting with party representatives on Wednesday to hear their recommendations on which lawmaker should receive the mandate to form a government.
According to the president, consultations included representatives of Religious Zionism, Zehut, Shas, and Yisrael Beytenu.
Three factions associated with Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist political base recommended that the prime minister be given the first opportunity to assemble a governing coalition.
However, a fourth faction, led by a former Netanyahu ally who has since become a political rival, endorsed Eisenkot for the position.
Herzog concluded the first round of consultations Wednesday evening, with further discussions scheduled for Thursday.
The president’s decision on whom to nominate will be crucial in determining Israel’s next government, as political leaders face the challenge of negotiating alliances in a fragmented parliament.
With neither major bloc holding a majority, the coming negotiations could reshape Israel’s political leadership and determine whether Netanyahu remains in power or an alternative coalition emerges.
