Overview
- President Isaac Herzog accepted certified results and began formal consultations Wednesday to hear party recommendations before naming a lawmaker to try to form a government.
- Neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc reached the 61‑seat majority required to govern, leaving the Joint List and Ra'am, which together hold 19 seats, as decisive kingmakers.
- Several parties formally recommended candidates during consultations: Shas and Religious Zionism backed Netanyahu, Ra'am recommended Eisenkot, and Degel HaTorah abstained, giving Eisenkot an early recommendation lead but no clear majority.
- The Central Elections Committee and the attorney general say audits found no evidence that irregularities changed the outcome, while the Shin Bet has reported intelligence suggesting possible large‑scale foreign funding and is still investigating.
- Herzog has seven days to complete consultations before deciding whom to task; the chosen lawmaker will have 28 days plus a possible 14‑day extension to build a coalition or face fresh elections early next year, a choice that will shape security policy and Israel’s ties abroad.