Israel's Coalition Deadlock: President Herzog Says Numbers Unclear

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Thursday evening it remains unclear who will be able to form a government, following two days of consultations with leaders of parties elected to the Knesset. Factions representing 67 Knesset members recommended Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party to form the government, while 46 recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud. Herzog noted that mutual vetoes between and within blocs obscure the situation, and he will task a Knesset member on Sunday, breaking with tradition. The October 27 elections gave Netanyahu's bloc 53 seats, the anti-Netanyahu "change bloc" 48, and Arab parties 19. Most parties refuse to sit with Arab factions, mainly due to their reluctance to label Hamas a terrorist organization, complicating coalition prospects.