Herzog begins consultations on forming Israel's next government after election gives no bloc a majority

Israeli President Isaac Herzog begins consultations on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with leaders of all parties elected to the 26th Knesset, before deciding whom to task with forming the next government. The final count, published by Israel's Central Elections Committee, gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, against 48 for the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot; 61 are needed for a majority. Neither camp won one in the October 27 vote. Herzog may pick the candidate with the best chance of building a coalition, not necessarily the leader of the largest party. The president's role is otherwise largely ceremonial, the law gives him broad discretion and sets no guidelines. Herzog has urged that every effort be made to avoid a new election and said he expects visitors to come with an open mind. Before the vote he said no one, including U.S. President Donald Trump, could intervene in his discretion. On Monday Netanyahu wrote on X that Israelis do not want a government dependent on Ra'am and the Joint List, which he described as supporting terrorism.

Right-leaning Fox News leads with the ddatelined Tel Aviv coalition test for Netanyahu, giving the seat count and quoting his X post against relying on Ra'am and the Joint List and his claim that a clear majority of the Jewish public chose Likud and him. Its piece gives little room to Herzog's own words, and the opening is tied to a video promo about a Trump aid announcement. The alternative outlets differ. The Hindu profiles Herzog as unassuming but decisive, stressing his discretion and his pledge to resist outside pressure, while The Times of Israel describes a government without a majority and a majority without a government, noting that Netanyahu cannot advance legislation but keeps authority to launch military operations. Both sides agree that neither bloc has 61 seats. Left-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while right-leaning and alternative outlets had.