‘Time to face reality’: Israel’s president takes first steps on building new government

On Wednesday, Israel's president Isaac Herzog began talks on forming a new government with a plea for compromise, acknowledging that neither side had emerged victorious in the recent divisive elections. Condemning "racist" rhetoric targeting Arab parties, Herzog emphasized the need for both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his challenger Gadi Eisenkot to accept that "not every commitment and promise can be fulfilled" and to avoid another election.

Neither bloc holds a majority in the 120-seat parliament following the October 27 vote. Eisenkot, who secured the endorsement of a major Arab party, vowed to deepen the US-Israel partnership under bipartisan leadership and work with President Donald Trump to stabilize the region. He expressed willingness to collaborate with Trump and his administration, vowing to advance shared security interests and regional stability.

The United Arab List, an Arab-Israeli party, recommended Eisenkot to form the next government. Herzog, whose role is primarily ceremonial, condemned the "coarseness and racist expressions" directed at any community in Israel. No evidence was found to challenge the integrity of the election results, which were confirmed by the Central Elections Committee.