Israeli coalition talks continue after election produces no clear winner

Israeli President Isaac Herzog plans to announce on Sunday who will be tasked with forming a new government following the October 27 election, the South China Morning Post reported. The South China Morning Post said opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot secured 67 recommendations to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Washington Examiner reported that neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition has a straightforward path to building a majority. [1][2]

Herzog conducted a second day of consultations with political party representatives on Thursday, according to the South China Morning Post. The Bangkok Post reported that the opposition is closer to ousting Netanyahu. However, the Washington Examiner described Netanyahu's enduring political fortunes as remarkable, noting that his bloc survived severe headwinds after the events of October 7, 2023. [1][2][8]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Herzog received the official election results after Israeli election officials certified the deadlocked vote. Netanyahu's right-wing coalition won 53 seats, while Eisenkot's opposition alliance secured 48 seats. The Arab-led political lists captured 19 seats, which leaves them holding key leverage because 61 seats are required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. [12][13]

Separately, a street banner was displayed in Tehran, Iran, on November 3 depicting Netanyahu alongside Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, and United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to photos published by The Lufkin Daily News. [4]