Israeli President Herzog urges unity amidst post-election uncertainty

Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition nor the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot secured a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. A significant surge in support for Arab-Israeli parties, including the Joint List and the United Arab List, resulted in a record 19 seats for these groups, giving them considerable influence over the next government’s composition.

This outcome has sparked intense debate, with Prime Minister Netanyahu asserting that Jewish-majority parties should not cooperate with Arab-Israeli parties. He has accused these groups of undermining Israel’s existence. Allegations of foreign funding, reportedly from Qatar, flowing into Arab-Israeli communities before the election have prompted investigations by Israel’s intelligence agency, Shin Bet, and the Israel Police.

President Herzog will receive the official election results on Wednesday and subsequently begin consultations with party leaders. Speaking in Jerusalem, Herzog urged leaders to approach discussions with an “open mind” and “open heart,” stating, “The elections are over…now is the time to tell all the leaders to stop climbing and face this reality.”

Should a coalition agreement fail to materialize, new elections could be held in the coming months. Gadi Eisenkot, previously hesitant to work with Arab-Israeli parties, has indicated a potential shift, emphasizing the significant margin by which voters supported change. However, he stipulated that any partnership requires recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization.

While the possibility of a government supported by Arab-Israeli parties without formal coalition membership remains a possibility, some anti-Netanyahu factions are reportedly considering legislative actions to control the Knesset, even with Netanyahu as caretaker prime minister. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, is actively exploring a partnership with the Joint List and the United Arab List.

Concerns have been raised that Netanyahu may attempt to escalate tensions with Iran to maintain his grip on power. Golan warned that Israel’s security should not be exploited for political gain. Reports suggest Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone over the weekend, potentially discussing Iran.