HERZOG TO BEGIN COALITION CONSULTATIONS WITH KNESSET PARTIES

President Isaac Herzog is set to begin consultations with parties elected to Israel's 26th Knesset as early as Wednesday, 4 November, ahead of assigning the mandate to form the country's next government. The President's Office said representatives of each faction will be invited to Herzog's official residence to state which candidate they recommend for the task of building a coalition. Eyal Shviki, Director General of the President's Office, sent official invitations to faction representatives on Sunday. Shviki said the President expects representatives to arrive with an open mind and a willingness to prevent further elections. Herzog has directed that the meetings with the factions be broadcast live to the public.

Unlike previous elections, no clear outcome for the next government is currently apparent. Right-wing parties are expected to recommend Benjamin Netanyahu, while the Yashar and Democrats parties are expected to back Gadi Eisenkot. It remains unclear which candidate Yisrael Beytenu and Together will recommend to the President. United Torah Judaism is considering not recommending any candidate for the role of forming the next government. Knesset members Yaakov Asher, Yitzhak Goldknopf and Meir Porush were due to discuss the matter.

The consultations will determine who receives the mandate to attempt to build a governing coalition in the new Knesset. The process begins before the new parliament has been sworn in, with Herzog hearing directly from each party on its preferred candidate. The outcome depends on the positions taken by smaller factions, including Yisrael Beytenu, Together and United Torah Judaism, whose recommendations are not yet settled. Herzog's office has not indicated when a final decision on the mandate will be announced.