President Isaac Herzog is set to task a candidate with trying to form a government, following two days of talks with party leaders and officials after an inconclusive election.
President Isaac Herzog wrapped up two days of talks with party leaders by saying he will ask one of them on Sunday to try to assemble a governing coalition.
President Isaac Herzog has tried to avoid controversy and heal rifts in his largely ceremonial role. But his skills as a savvy mediator could be instrumental after an inconclusive election.
Party leaders will make competing cases to the Israeli president for either Benjamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot to get the first chance to build a governing coalition.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party and its allies won 53 seats in Parliament, falling short of the outright majority needed to form a government. The main opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, won 48.
Votes are still being counted, but it appears that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition nor the opposition alliance headed by Gadi Eisenkot will have a majority.