Isaac Herzog, Israel's president, holds a largely ceremonial role but bears the critical responsibility of selecting a prime minister after national elections. Since Israelis vote for parties rather than individuals, Herzog must convene party leaders and choose someone to form a government. Early exit polls suggest a tight race between the far-right coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the center-right opposition bloc.
While Netanyahu's Likud party appears to have received the most votes, Herzog can select another leader deemed more likely to assemble a coalition. In 2009, Herzog's predecessor, Shimon Peres, chose Netanyahu despite his party winning fewer votes than Kadima. Herzog has repeatedly criticized what he calls a "terrible process of brutalization" in Israeli society, citing settler violence and detainee abuse.
He also faces pressure from former President Trump to pardon Netanyahu, who stands trial on corruption charges. Herzog must discern if the vote reflects a demand for change or support for another Netanyahu government. If Herzog taps former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, tasked with launching a state inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack, forming a government remains uncertain.
The center-right opposition would need to ally with Arab parties, which secured a record number of seats, but Netanyahu has ruled out such inclusion. Both far-right and far-left blocs face obstacles assembling a governing majority, requiring politically difficult agreements.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing