No clear winner in Israel's election as President Herzog consults parties on who should form government

Israel's general election results are in, and politics is shifting fast. No single party or alliance has won a clear majority, leaving the country with a hung Knesset once again.

To help form a stable and strong government, President Isaac Herzog has begun consultations with representatives of all parties, large and small, in the newly elected Knesset, the country's parliament. The talks are being held at the President's residence in Jerusalem and are being broadcast live. The world is watching the meetings. The question is whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can save his seat or Gadi Eisenkot becomes the new prime minister.

Under Israel's political and constitutional rules, the President's role becomes very important when no one wins a clear majority. Herzog has begun a second round of meetings with all the parliamentary factions of the Knesset. The aim is to decide which leader would be best placed to lead the country next, and who has the strength to reach the majority mark.

In these meetings, each party is being asked to back its preferred candidate for prime minister. Under the legal provisions, the President does not give the first chance to form a coalition government only to the leader of the largest party. The opportunity goes to the member of parliament with the best chance of forming a government with the support of other parties. The President's office said on November 5, 2026 that Herzog was continuing to consult Knesset factions at the President's residence in Jerusalem.

Two big camps now face each other in parliament. On one side is Benjamin Netanyahu, long-serving prime minister, and the strength of his Likud party. On the other is Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot and his Yashar party.

The picture of support is gradually becoming clearer. Religious and right-wing parties such as the Religious Zionist Party, Shas and Zehut have openly backed Netanyahu to return as prime minister. Yashar chief Gadi Eisenkot's leadership has been fully backed, as announced, by The Democrats, Beyachad, Ra'am and Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beytenu party.

Two groups have not yet sided with either camp. Four representatives of the Degel HaTorah faction of United Torah Judaism have said they will not back any candidate for now. Members of Agudat Israel have kept their stance under wraps so far. This has made the race for power extremely tight.