Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Monday that he would do everything in his power to prevent Israel from holding another election if the upcoming vote fails to produce a result that allows a government to be formed.
Public opinion polls indicate that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the Jewish opposition bloc would be able to form a government following the October 27 election.
According to Anadolu Agency, a poll conducted by the public broadcaster and published Sunday evening showed Netanyahu’s bloc rising to 53 of the Knesset’s 120 seats.
The Jewish opposition bloc, meanwhile, fell to 50 seats, while Palestinian lawmakers were projected to win 13 seats and the Reserve Party, led by Yoaz Hendel, four seats.
At least 61 Knesset members must support a government for it to win a confidence vote.
Most leaders of Jewish opposition parties have said they oppose relying on Palestinian lawmakers to form a government, while the Reserve Party has not decided which bloc it would support.
If neither bloc succeeds in forming a government, another election would be held several months later, while the current government would remain in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed.
Against this backdrop, Herzog pledged to do everything possible to prevent Israel from sliding into another election cycle if the upcoming vote fails to produce a decisive result.
“I am doing everything I can to ensure that Israel has a stable government,” Herzog said in a recorded interview with the Hebrew-language Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
“I will go even further and do absolutely everything in my power to prevent another election,” he added.
Herzog warned that Israel faces enormous challenges and cannot afford the cost of repeated election cycles.
Since 2023, Israel has been carrying out what has been described as genocide in the Gaza Strip and a broad military campaign in the occupied West Bank. It has also waged wars against Lebanon and Iran, carried out airstrikes on Yemen and Qatar, and conducted ground incursions and near-daily artillery attacks in Syria.
“We must wait for the results rather than make premature judgments, but we must do everything possible to avoid a repeat of this,” Herzog said.
Among the few powers held by the Israeli president is the authority to task a politician with forming a government after consultations with representatives of the parties that win seats in the election. The parties recommend a Knesset member to form the government.
The politician who receives the largest number of recommendations is usually tasked with forming the government. If that person fails, another politician may be given a limited period to form one.
Herzog was asked whether he was concerned that one of the parties might refuse to accept the election results.
“I believe everyone will accept the election results. I constantly urge Israelis to vote and remind everyone that elections are not a civil war,” he said.
“Elections are the means by which issues are decided and decisions are made,” he added.
Plea Deal
Herzog renewed his call for a plea agreement to end Netanyahu’s criminal trial, in which the prime minister faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
“The president has full authority to task a Knesset member with forming a government. This has nothing to do with the issue of a pardon. After hearing from all the parties (…) consultations begin,” Herzog said.
“Regarding the pardon issue, I have said before and continue to say that this matter must come to an end. It should end with a plea agreement, as it must be resolved through a settlement,” he added.
“That is why I proposed mediation at the president’s residence several months ago,” Herzog said.
He added that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had initially hesitated but later agreed to attend and participate.
“But the prime minister has not responded so far, and the door remains open from my side at all times,” Herzog said.
Asked whether he was calling on Netanyahu to accept his proposal, Herzog said: “I am not issuing calls; I am waiting for a response.”
He added, however, that the matter was not currently relevant because Israel was in the middle of an election period.
Netanyahu has rejected a plea deal in the corruption cases against him, denies the allegations and claims they constitute “political persecution” aimed at removing him from power.
Netanyahu has headed the government since late December 2022. His government is widely described as the most right-wing in Israel’s history.
In addition to his domestic trial, Netanyahu has been wanted by the International Criminal Court since 2024 over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel’s war in Gaza since 2023.
Source: Anadolu
