Live Updates: Herzog announces mandate to be awarded Sunday as he works to bring 'good, stable gov't' for Israel
Liberman said to open door for haredi parties to join gov't • Opposition also seeks to replace Knesset speaker amid fears of alleged Likud plot
Follow us on Google(L-R): Yashar head Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(photo credit: MAYA LEVIN, JEWEL SAMAD/various sources/AFP via Getty Images)
Herzog warns political hostility in Israel impacts Diaspora Jews, calls for greater unity
Herzog's comments reflect a broader emphasis throughout his presidency on strengthening ties between Israel and Jewish communities abroad.
BySHIR PERETSPresident Isaac Herzog presents the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism to six passengers who acted heroically aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight on September 30, during a ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, October 8, 2026.(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)Go to the full article > >
Eisenkot expected to secure presidential mandate as Herzog rounds out consultation meetings
The consultations are part of the process through which Herzog will determine which Knesset member has the best chance of assembling a governing coalition.
Hundreds rally outside President's Residence, demand Netanyahu-Eisenkot unity government
ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFHundreds rally outside the President's Residence, November 5, 2026.(photo credit: Courtesy)
Joint List to back Eisenkot for PM, calling move key step to blocking Netanyahu
ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFThe eleven Joint List lawmakers elected to the 26th Knesset pose for a picture on November 5, 2026.(photo credit: HADASH MEDIA/THE JOINT LIST)
Netanyahu slams Abbas over Hamas remarks, warns Eisenkot depends on Arab parties
The final voter turnout was 77.7% when polls closed at 10:00 p.m., according to the Central Elections Committee (CEC), up 7.1% from the 2022 election.
Likud remains the largest party: Netanyahu's Likud won 27 seats, followed by Eisenkot's Yashar with 21 and Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad with 12.
Netanyahu's bloc leads, but falls short of a majority: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats.
Arab parties hold 19 seats: The Joint List and Ra'am secured a combined 19 seats, giving them a potentially decisive role in efforts to form the next government.
What happens next? Once the official results are published, President Isaac Herzog will consult with representatives of the elected parties before tasking a lawmaker with forming the next government. The designated candidate will initially have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to form a coalition.
Could Israel face another election? If no candidate succeeds in forming a government through the prescribed process, the political deadlock could ultimately lead to another election.