Israel's president opens coalition talks as Netanyahu and rival fall short of majority

Israeli President Isaac Herzog began consultations Wednesday to select a candidate to form a government, as neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor rival Gadi Eisenkot secured a parliamentary majority in the Oct 27 election. The decision could take weeks and risks ending in new elections. Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats versus Eisenkot's 48 in the 120-member parliament, with 61 needed for a majority. Eisenkot could reach the threshold by allying with Arab-minority parties, whose seat count surged to 19, though some opposition members resist relying on non-Jewish lawmakers. Netanyahu has rejected Arab support, and his party faces accusations of electoral fraud claims against Arab Israeli parties. Herzog, officially nonpartisan, aims to encourage "fresh thinking" and avoid another election, potentially exploring a unity government. The chosen candidate gets 28 days to form a coalition, extendable by 14 days, with failure leading to alternative mandates or new elections. Netanyahu, facing corruption charges, previously took 58 days to form a government after the last election.