In the wake of an inconclusive general election, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has commenced the second day of crucial political consultations with newly elected Knesset factions to determine which leader is best positioned to form the nation’s next government. These formal discussions began last evening with smaller parliamentary factions including Religious Zionism, Shas, Yisrael Beytenu and Zehut. The day’s proceedings advanced sequentially with scheduled meetings involving United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, the Democrats, Ra’am, the Joint List and B’Yachad. Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar faction met with the head of state, followed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.

 

During these proceedings, each faction is formally requested to endorse a prospective candidate for prime minister before the head of state determines which political figure receives the initial mandate to form a governing coalition. Reflecting these developing political alignments, both Otzma Yehudit and Likud publicly confirmed their intention to endorse incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to The Jerusalem Post, during yesterday’s political deliberations, the Religious Zionist Party, Shas and Zehut collectively added their voices to this bloc in supporting Netanyahu for the premiership.

 

Conversely, Yashar, the Democrats, B’Yachad and Ra’am stated that their support would go to Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot. Yisrael Beytenu, headed by Avigdor Liberman, is putting forward Eisenkot as the preferred candidate to construct the upcoming administration.