Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to begin coalition consultations with parties elected to parliament after the results of last week's election were officially confirmed on Wednesday, with confirmation that no outright winner has secured the majority needed to form the next government.
Israel's Central Elections Committee announced that the opposition parties won 67 seats in the 120-member parliament, against 53 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling bloc.
The opposition's 67 seats include 48 won by parties aligned with former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party and 19 by the Arab-led parties, namely the Joint List, a coalition of three parties, and the Muslim Ra'am party.
Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot has the 61 seats needed to form a majority government without support from outside their respective blocs.
Herzog will open talks with political parties on Wednesday evening, starting with the smallest factions first, to determine which lawmaker should be tasked with forming the next government. He urged the main parties to compromise on their pre-election promises to avoid forcing another vote and enable the formation of a stable government.
Former military chief Eisenkot is widely expected to get the endorsement of the Arab parties. If he isn't able to come to an agreement within 28 days, President Herzog may grant a 14-day extension before the mandate moves to the second in line.
Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader with nearly 19 years in office across multiple different terms and many Israelis say they are now hoping for a fresh start following a challenging few years, and believe the Arab parties will have a major say in the outcome.
"I want that the party of change will take place. We have [had] enough of Netanyahu for the [last] 15 years and I think it's really a change for us, for all of us. I wouldn't mind that the Arabs will also [be a coalition member] in the party. I think there are citizens of Israel, 20 percent of them. And I think after the October 7 [2023 attacks], they didn't do any harm," said Miki, a resident in Tel Aviv.
"Even though some people tried to represent it as Netanyahu has won something, obviously he didn't. And I think we should go to a government without him, and without anyone that was in the government on the 7th of October [2023] and all the three years that came after that. I think that they should go to a government with the Arabs. The Arabs are not here to represent me or you; they are here to represent their own. They are Israeli citizens, no matter what, and they deserve the same rights as you and me," said Inbar, another local.
Given the current uncertainties, the possibility of another round of elections in a few months looms larger, unless the leading parties are willing to break their pre-election promises to facilitate a coalition with the Arab parties.
Israeli president begins coalition consultations as election results confirm no outright winner
