Herzog Meets Party Leaders to Pick PM After 53-48 Seat Split
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Nov 5
Herzog Meets Party Leaders to Pick PM After 53-48 Seat Split
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Nov 5
Summary
Isaac Herzog met leaders of parties that won Knesset seats to gauge whom they back for prime minister after last week’s inconclusive election.
53 seats went to Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc, but anti-Netanyahu parties won 48 and Arab-led parties 19, leaving no camp with a clear governing majority.
Gadi Eisenkot is expected to draw the most recommendations, likely with support from at least one Arab-led party, though he still must unite a divided opposition.
Nov. 11 is Herzog’s deadline to choose a candidate to try forming a government, though he could move sooner after consultations that began Wednesday.
As Netanyahu cries foul over election results, can Israel's fragile opposition overcome deep ideological divides to form a historic coalition before the deadline?
Could the unexpected surge in Arab voter turnout become the ultimate kingmaker that reshapes Israel's political landscape forever?