Herzog Presses Israeli Leaders to Form Government After Knesset Vote
The President urged negotiators to keep an open mind during consultations at the Residence to prevent a repeat of last year's ballot.
By Dominic Foster ·
Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, called on political leaders on Wednesday to negotiate with an open mind. He warned that the country must exhaust all options to prevent another general election. These remarks followed the October 27 vote, in which citizens selected the 26th Knesset.
Herzog stated, "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 added, "Therefore, I expect everyone who comes here to arrive with an open mind." He was referring to the upcoming consultations scheduled at the President's Residence.
Presidents have historically intervened during political standoffs. Several leaders have used their offices to encourage party heads to build unity coalitions. This approach aims to break deadlocks that would otherwise trigger new voting cycles.
In 2019, Reuven Rivlin lobbied Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz to create a unity government after the 22nd Knesset election. Rivlin proposed an equal government structure. He also suggested changes to rules regarding incapacity and the role of the acting prime minister.
A similar precedent exists from 1984. Chaim Herzog, the current President's father, served as Israel's sixth president. He pushed for a unity government between the Alignment party and Likud. Chaim Herzog wrote that he needed to bring different elements together to avoid a dangerous split.
When negotiations stalled, Chaim Herzog granted Shimon Peres extra time to form a cabinet. He later created a small negotiating team with representatives from Likud and the Labor Party. Days later, a unity government led by Peres and Yitzhak Shamir emerged. It operated under a rotation agreement.
