Herzog to meet Netanyahu and Eisenkot as Israel weighs coalition path

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to meet Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot on Thursday, with less than a week left to decide who will first attempt to form a government after last month's inconclusive election. Neither bloc secured a majority, as Netanyahu's coalition fell from 68 to 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while Eisenkot's Change bloc holds 48 seats. Arab Israeli parties, with a record 19 seats, are potential kingmakers, and turnout among Arab Israelis more than doubled to about 80%. Herzog has urged all parties to avoid another election, while Netanyahu has cast doubt on results amid an election integrity investigation that officials say found no compromise. Eisenkot has set conditions for Arab coalition partners, including recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and denouncing Hamas.