Israeli president begins coalition talks after Netanyahu loses majority

Israel's election commission confirmed final results Wednesday, stripping Binyamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition of its governing majority and rejecting his claims of mass voter fraud. Challenger Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of launching a "pogrom against democracy" by discrediting valid votes and weaponizing security forces against Palestinian-led parties. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara blocked a Shin Bet demand to interrogate four senior politicians from Palestinian-led parties, citing no evidence of wrongdoing. Election authorities presented results to President Yitzhak Herzog, who condemned racist attacks on Palestinian citizens who voted at historic rates. Herzog is expected to name Eisenkot to form a coalition as early as Thursday, with support from Jewish opposition parties and likely backing from Palestinian-led parties prioritizing Netanyahu's removal. Negotiations may take weeks amid warnings of continued efforts to undermine election trust.