Herzog urges Israeli parties to avoid another election as Netanyahu and Eisenkot remain short of a majority

Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged political parties Wednesday to make every effort to prevent another election after the latest count left both Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition short of a parliamentary majority.

“We must do everything we can, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections,” Herzog said at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

He called on party leaders to approach the coming coalition negotiations “with an open mind” and said he would begin formal consultations with the elected factions next week after receiving the official results.

“I will listen to everyone, ask questions and hold discussions,” Herzog said, before deciding which lawmaker should receive the first mandate to try to form a government.

With roughly 85% of ballots counted, Channel 12 projected Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats, Eisenkot’s bloc at 48 and predominantly Arab parties at 19. More than 500,000 special ballots remained to be counted.

Neither main bloc had reached the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, increasing pressure on both camps to seek new coalition arrangements.

Netanyahu has called for a national right-wing government and rejected reliance on Arab parties, while Eisenkot and other opposition leaders have begun coordinating efforts to replace the outgoing government.

If coalition negotiations fail to produce a government, Israel could ultimately return to the polls.