Herzog set to meet Netanyahu and Eisenkot as he weighs first coalition bid

Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, is scheduled to meet Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival Gadi Eisenkot on Thursday, with less than a week left to decide which leader will be tasked with forming a government, The Guardian reported. Herzog has called on all parties to cooperate in order to avoid a new election after both the Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs fell short of a majority in the recent vote. The election, described by observers as one of the most consequential for Israel in many decades, produced no clear pathway to power for either contender. Netanyahu, the long‑time prime minister, and Eisenkot, a former military general and chief of staff, emerged from the bitterly contested poll without the numbers needed to command a coalition outright. Herzog’s upcoming talks will determine which of the two will receive the first mandate to try to assemble a governing coalition, a step that could shape the country’s political direction in the coming months.

Why it matters

The president’s decision will influence whether Israel avoids a fresh election and which leader gets the initial chance to build a governing coalition.

Key details

Location

Israel · Middle East

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

5 Nov 2026, 23:43 IST

Key names

Israeli, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu

Section

Politics

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianHerzog to meet Israeli election rivals as decision nears on path to power 5 Nov, 23:43

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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