Israel's President Starts Talks to Break Election Impasse

WHO:

Al Jazeera - The Central Elections Committee certified the election results; its chairman, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, cast the deciding vote after Yesh Atid and Blue and White representatives voted to ratify the results and Likud and Shas abstained.

Al Jazeera - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 parliamentary seats; Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc won 48; Arab-led Ra’am and the Joint List secured 19.

BBC News - Israel’s president Herzog is conducting consultations with political parties and their representatives.

BBC - Herzog addressed Israel’s political factions and their representatives.

WHAT:

Al Jazeera - The committee’s review of 9,069 polling stations found no irregularities that compromised election integrity or changed the results. Acting director general Dean Livne said each complaint was examined individually and the results accurately reflected voters’ choices.

Al Jazeera - The 120-seat Knesset requires 61 seats for a majority; neither bloc reached that threshold.

Al Jazeera - After consultations, Herzog will give a candidate 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension.

Al Jazeera - Netanyahu and allies claimed without evidence that Arab-led parties “stole” the election, possibly with foreign help. Itamar Ben-Gvir called for arrests of Arab party leaders and a freeze on certification and government formation.

BBC News - Herzog began consultations with parties following an election deadlock.

BBC - Herzog said, “In order to prevent another round of elections and to build a stable and good government here for the people of Israel, I expect the factions and their representatives to understand that, in the current reality, not every commitment and promise can be fulfilled.”

BBC News - Herzog warned politicians that “not every commitment and promise can be fulfilled” if they want to avoid another election.

WHY:

BBC - Herzog said the consultations were intended to prevent another round of elections and build a stable government for the people of Israel.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - The election results were formally submitted to Herzog. The Times of Israel reported that consultations would begin with smaller parties, starting with Religious Zionism, followed by Shas and Yisrael Beytenu.

BBC News - Herzog began consultations with political parties after the election deadlock.

BBC - Herzog urged factions and their representatives to recognize that not every commitment and promise could be fulfilled.

(UPDATED November 4, 2026 22:03 UTC)

Israel certified election results, with reviewers finding no irregularities that changed the outcome. Netanyahu’s bloc fell short of a majority. President Herzog began consultations, seeking a stable government and hoping to avert another election.

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(UPDATED November 4, 2026 20:10 UTC)

President Herzog began talks with political parties after Israel’s election deadlock. He urged factions to compromise, saying not every campaign promise could be fulfilled. Herzog hopes the consultations will prevent another election and produce stable government.