Israeli President Moves Forward with Government Formation Post-Election
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced he will initiate consultations with party representatives regarding the establishment of a new government, following his acceptance of the certified results from last week’s parliamentary elections. His decision effectively dismisses allegations of voter fraud.
On Wednesday, Herzog’s validation of the election results represented a setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who sought to challenge the legitimacy of the vote. In this election, Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition lost its majority in the Knesset, while Arab-led parties achieved record gains.
Netanyahu and his allies have repeatedly made unverified claims that the Arab-led parties “stole” the election, potentially with foreign involvement.
Now, Herzog is mandated to meet with various party leaders to determine his recommendation for the prime minister-designate, creating the likelihood of a new governmental coalition potentially excluding Netanyahu.
Election Commission Reports No Evidence of Fraud
Earlier on Wednesday, Israel’s election commission concluded a comprehensive investigation into claims of electoral fraud, stating that it found “no evidence of irregularities that compromised the integrity of the election or affected its results.”
As of now, Netanyahu’s Likud party has yet to respond to inquiries for comments regarding these findings.
Meanwhile, a separate probe by the Shin Bet intelligence agency, which is overseen by a Netanyahu appointee, is still in progress concerning accusations of foreign interference in the election. During a closed meeting on Wednesday, the commission’s head, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, shared an intelligence assessment from Shin Bet indicating they believe there was a “widespread phenomenon involving the influx of substantial funds into Israel from foreign nations,” some of which are adversarial to the nation. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate this claim, as obtained by the Associated Press from a source privy to the confidential meeting.
The election committee acknowledged the seriousness of claims regarding foreign involvement; however, it has stated that even if such interference occurred, it did not impact the election’s outcomes. Sohlberg reiterated this point, emphasizing during the certification ceremony that it is perilous to undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The Path Ahead for President Herzog
In the wake of the elections held on October 27, neither Netanyahu’s coalition nor the bloc of his principal rival, opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, secured enough seats to form a new government. This outcome opens the door for potential cooperation between the two rivals or a partnership involving some Arab-led parties.
Herzog’s forthcoming meetings with political party representatives are expected to take place over the next several days. He is tasked with selecting the contender—most likely Netanyahu or Eisenkot—who seems best positioned to assemble a coalition government, initiating a phase of extensive negotiations.
If neither candidate succeeds in forming a government, Israel may face a new election early next year.
Shin Bet’s Request for Interrogation Launched Controversy
As part of its investigation, the Shin Bet sought permission from Israel’s attorney general to interrogate several elected officials, including Ra’am party leader Mansour Abbas and senior Arab lawmakers. This request was firmly rejected, with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara asserting that interrogations cannot proceed without adequate evidence.
The Joint List of Arab parties has labeled the request as a “campaign of incitement” orchestrated by Netanyahu and his supporters to undermine the Arab vote.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right ally of Netanyahu, dismissed the election committee’s assertion of the election’s validity. He urged the Shin Bet to arrest Arab political leaders and conduct interrogations in “basement cells” until all suspicions are clarified.
In response to rising tensions, Herzog has advised that the Shin Bet’s investigation should continue. At the same time, he cautioned against vilifying Arab Israeli voters, denouncing the “coarseness and racist expressions” that have surfaced recently.
Chief Editor of Quincy City Beat — Quincy, MA's independent investigative newspaper covering Greater Boston and the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts with fearless public accountability and free access for all readers.
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