Israel election results certified; Herzog begins coalition talks

Israel's Central Elections Committee has certified the October 27 election results, rejecting fraud claims, with no party bloc securing the 61 seats needed to govern in the 120-seat Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's bloc took 48, leaving Arab parties Joint List and Ra'am with a record 19 seats as potential kingmakers. President Isaac Herzog has begun consultations with parties to nominate a candidate for prime minister. Herzog must name a candidate by November 11, with Netanyahu remaining caretaker leader until a new government forms. Netanyahu's allies have refused to back the certified results, and another election could occur if coalition talks fail.