Israeli President: Time to form government, not hold another vote

Israel’s political system often stalls after general votes, leaving the president to mediate between rival parties. On Wednesday, President Isaac Herzog addressed the country’s leaders, urging them to approach coalition negotiations with an open mind. He warned that the nation must do everything possible to avoid another round of elections.

Herzog made these remarks one day after citizens went to the polls to select the 26th Knesset. "One thing must be understood, and I said this even before the elections: We must do everything, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections," he stated. The president expects leaders to arrive at his residence for consultations with a willingness to compromise.

This is not the first time an Israeli president has stepped into a period of political deadlock. In 2019, following the election for the 22nd Knesset, President Reuven Rivlin lobbied Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz to form a unity government. Rivlin proposed a specific structure that included changes to arrangements covering incapacity and the role of the acting prime minister to break the impasse.

A similar precedent dates to 1984, when Isaac Herzog’s father, Chaim Herzog, served as the country’s sixth president. Chaim Herzog later described using his position to press for a unity government between the Alignment party and Likud. He wrote that he had to try to bring together different elements rather than allow events to lead to a dangerous split.

When that deadlock persisted, Chaim Herzog gave Shimon Peres additional time to form a government. After negotiations stalled, the former president established a small negotiating team that included representatives from Likud and the Labor Party. Days after that step, a unity government led by Peres and Yitzhak Shamir was presented, built around a rotation agreement.

The current consultations are scheduled to take place at the President's Residence. Party leaders are expected to meet there in the coming days to determine the structure of the next government.