Herzog says no outside pressure, including Trump's, will sway his choice to form a coalition

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that neither the president of the United States nor anyone else can intervene in his discretion over whom he tasks with forming a coalition, responding to U.S. President Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu. Herzog made the remark in an interview with MS NOW. The Times of Israel reported that he said no outside pressure would affect that decision. Separately, Katz said reports of a clash between the prime minister and the chief of the IDF were baseless. Katz also said there was no intention to attack Iran before the election, according to the Times of Israel. The articles do not say when the election will be held or whom Herzog would choose.

Right-leaning outlets tracked by Crosswire had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative/independent outlets had. MS NOW, the left-leaning outlet, leads with Herzog's own words and frames the story in its headline as a reaffirmation of the independence of Israeli elections amid Trump's push for Netanyahu. Its available text centers on Herzog alone and includes no other voices or Katz's comments. The Times of Israel, an alternative/independent outlet, carries the same Herzog statement almost word for word but opens its headline with Trump's endorsement and focuses on the narrower question of who Herzog tasks with forming a coalition. It also adds Katz's remarks on the alleged clash and on Iran, which MS NOW's text does not mention. With no right-leaning coverage available, no comparison with that side can be made.