Israel’s presidential election on 27 October ended without a clear winner, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot both short of a parliamentary majority. The result has placed President Isaac Herzog in the position of selecting a candidate he believes can form a coalition in the deeply divided Knesset. During a series of marathon consultations on Wednesday and Thursday, Herzog met with all 120 members of the Knesset. Seventy‑seven members expressed support for Eisenkot, while 46 backed Netanyahu. Herzog noted that “the results of the consultations may appear clear, but there are mutual blockages between blocs, and even within the blocs themselves,” making it difficult to determine who has the best chance of building a government. In a televised address at the end of the consultations, Herzog said he would make his decision on Sunday. He added that he would hold “personal talks with some of the party leaders” over the weekend, which in Israel runs from Friday to Saturday. The president’s choice will determine the next prime‑ministerial candidate and set the stage for the formation of a new government.
Article source: Večernji List | Image credit: Večernji List