Crucial consultations to form a new government began in Israel on Wednesday. The country is in a deadlock after parliamentary elections. President Herzog is calling for historic compromises.

These are critical days for Israeli democracy. Formal consultations on government formation began Wednesday at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem. President Isaac Herzog met, one by one, with the leaders of all the parliamentary groups elected to the Knesset.

The consultations are expected to continue until Thursday evening. These discussions mark the beginning of a complex – and possibly lengthy – process that will ultimately result in a candidate for the post of Prime Minister. However, rarely has the situation been as complicated as it is after these elections.

Israel is deeply divided politically, and the election result has led to a mathematical and ideological deadlock: neither the nationalist, right-wing and religious bloc – led by experienced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – nor the broad opposition coalition – centered around former army chief Gadi Eisenkot – can secure a stable governing majority of at least 61 of the 120 seats that make up the Knesset.

Arab parties: The unexpected “decision makers”
The main surprise of these elections has shaken the traditional structure of Israeli politics: it is now the Arab parties that hold the key to power. With a total of 19 seats, they have become the key factor that tips the scales. Throughout Israel's history, Arab parliamentary groups have rarely participated directly in governing coalitions or served as active partners in supporting a government.

Now, both Netanyahu and Eisenkot face the challenge of building bridges that, just a few weeks ago, would have seemed unimaginable. The key question for now is whether Arab lawmakers are willing to recommend either candidate for prime minister — and, if so, under what conditions.

Herzog's appeal for an "open heart"
Faced with this impasse, President Herzog – even before the consultations had begun – chose to speak with unusual emotion and a deep sense of state responsibility. He called on the leaders of the various factions to “seek creative solutions with an open heart” and to listen to each other, despite deep political differences. At this critical moment, Israel cannot afford a prolonged political deadlock – let alone another round of elections.

To restore faith in the political process to a population exhausted by crises and wars, Herzog has taken an important step: the consultations at the Presidential Residence will be broadcast live in their entirety, both on television and through digital channels. This will allow the Israeli public to follow, in real time, the arguments presented by each parliamentary group, as well as the candidate they ultimately recommend for the post of prime minister. Such radical transparency puts enormous pressure on lawmakers to reach an agreement.

Dramatic appeal to Eisenkot from hostage families
As political maneuvers take place in Jerusalem, social pressure outside the negotiation halls is mounting – focusing, in particular, on the opposition leader, Eisenkot. The leader of the “Yashar” party is facing urgent demands from a traumatized civil society. Before the consultations began, the families of the victims and hostages of the October 7 terrorist attack addressed a moving appeal to Eisenkot.

On behalf of more than 700 directly affected people – including released hostages, survivors of massacres and residents of communities along the border with the Gaza Strip – they urged Eisenkot to use his electoral mandate, without exception, to form a “government for change.”

The signatories' message is clear: under no circumstances should Eisenkot accept half-measures or join a coalition that legitimizes the forces responsible for the catastrophic state failure that occurred around October 7.

For Eisenkot, who lost family members in the war, this appeal carries immense weight, both political and personal. Every decision he makes in Jerusalem in the coming days will be judged against this moral standard set by the victims' associations.

Weeks of arduous negotiations
The consultations in Jerusalem are initially scheduled to last two days. Once the talks are concluded, President Herzog will select the MP he considers most likely to form a stable coalition. This candidate will then have, by law, an initial period of 28 days to form a government.

However, given the seemingly incompatible positions of the various blocs, as well as the completely new role played by the Arab parties, observers in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem predict weeks of arduous negotiations./DW