Tel Aviv, Nov 5. (dpa/GNA) – Consultations between Israeli President Isaac Herzog and party representatives on forming the country’s next government, continued on Thursday, as Israel’s political future remains uncertain, following parliamentary elections that left neither main camp with a majority.
As part of the talks launched on Wednesday evening, each party will recommend a candidate to Herzog to be tasked with forming a government. Traditionally, the president selects the candidate he believes has the best chance of securing a parliamentary majority.
The person does not need to be the leader of the largest party. The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism alliance did not issue a recommendation for prime minister, while the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) recommended incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu to be tasked with forming a government.
The left-liberal Democrats backed former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who is considered the strongest challenger to Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party won the most seats in the 120-member Knesset in the October 27 vote, securing 27, followed by Eisenkot’s centrist Yashar party with 21.
Neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition secured the 61 seats needed for a majority, meaning the path to a new government will be difficult.
GNA