Israel president begins talks with parties after election deadlock as Netanyahu revives ‘foreign interference’ allegation

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday accepted the certified results of the October 27 Knesset elections and began consultations with parties on forming a new government. Eisenkot is reportedly widely expected to receive the mandate to form a government, as Wednesday night's recommendations gave him a clear lead.

(Agencies)The move came even as incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again alleged “foreign interference” in the parliamentary polls despite Israel's election commission stating that it found "no evidence" of irregularities.

Since Herzog received the official results on November 4, he now has seven days to complete the consultations and assign the task of forming a government under Israeli law. This means that parties must stake their claims by November 11.

ALSO READ | How Israel elects its prime minister without voters choosing a candidate More than a week after the October 27 vote, President Isaac Herzog began consultations with party leaders after accepting the official election results.

With neither the Netanyahu-led bloc nor his rival Gadi Eisenkot-led bloc achieving a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, Herzog urged both sides to accept the reality. He asked parties to understand that "not every commitment and promise can be fulfilled" and to avoid new elections.

"In the current reality, in which there is no clear winner after the elections, I ask for originality and creativity, courage and goodwill, so that the State of Israel emerges the winner," Herzog said during a press conference.

During consultations, he also slammed the rejection remarks against Arab parties, which delivered a surprising performance in this election. "I condemn the coarseness and racist expression that we have heard recently," he added.

Even as Herzog began a series of sit-downs with political parties on Wednesday night, questions remain about the possibility of an alliance between the two rivals -- Netanyahu and Eisenkot -- or between Eisenkot and some of the Arab parties.

Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and Shas recommended that the incumbent PM be given a chance to form a coalition government. Meanwhile, Yisrael Beytenu, led by Avigdor Liberman -- a former Netanyahu ally-turned-rival -- recommended Eisenkot.

ALSO READ | Israel opposition backs Gadi Eisenkot for PM, vows to replace Netanyahu's ‘October 7 government’ According to the Times of Israel, Yashar, the Democrats, B'Yachad, Yisrael Beytenu, and Ra'am had said that they would recommend Eisenkot.

Arab-led Joint List had reportedly not confirmed whether it would back Eisenkot as of Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the Degel HaTorah faction of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism confirmed that it would not endorse any candidate for the top office.

The faction holds four of UTJ's seven Knesset seats and includes the party's overall chairman, MK Yaakov Asher, the Times of Israel reported. Degel HaTorah said that its decision came after instructions from its spiritual leaders, Rabbis Dov Lando and Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

The other three UTJ lawmakers who are seated in the Knesset belong to the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael faction, which has also not yet made clear whether it would recommend a candidate or abstain from endorsing one. On Thursday, eight parties, including the two Arab-led factions, are set to meet Herzog.

Netanyahu's Likud and Eisenkot's Yashar party are scheduled to speak at the end. The consultations are due to begin at 8:30am (local time) with United Torah Judaism. Eisenkot is reportedly widely expected to receive the mandate to form a government, as Wednesday night's recommendations gave him a clear lead after the Arab-led Ra'am party announced that it would back him.