In unusual move, Herzog to begin coalition consultations with smallest Knesset parties

BySHIR PERETSNOVEMBER 2, 2026 16:46

President Isaac Herzog will begin consultations with representatives of the parties elected to the 26th Knesset on Wednesday, starting with the smallest factions in an unusual departure from previous rounds of coalition negotiations, the President's Office announced on Monday.

Rather than beginning with the largest parties, Herzog will invite faction representatives in ascending order of Knesset seats, beginning with Religious Zionism-Zehut and concluding with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud on Thursday evening.

According to the President's Office, the decision is intended to "encourage thinking outside the box," allowing Herzog to consider a wider range of potential coalition arrangements before consulting with the larger factions.

The consultations come as Israel's political parties face the challenge of forming a governing coalition following the October 27 election, with neither of the two largest parties, Likud and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar, enjoying a straightforward path to a 61-seat majority.

Herzog has emphasized the importance of exploring potential compromises to prevent another election, with the unusual consultation order potentially allowing smaller factions to present alternative coalition arrangements before the president meets with Netanyahu and Eisenkot.

In his statement, Herzog said he would hear the positions of all factions, seeking to "exhaust every possibility, broaden the dialogue, and explore any avenue that could advance the process."

The president also left open the possibility of holding a second round of consultations if necessary.

Herzog to meet with Likud, Yashar last

The consultations will begin Wednesday at 5 p.m. with Religious Zionism-Zehut, followed by Shas at 6:15 p.m. and Yisrael Beytenu at 7:30 p.m.

Meetings will resume Thursday morning, beginning with United Torah Judaism at 8:30 a.m., followed by Otzma Yehudit at 9:45 a.m., the Democrats at 11 a.m., and Ra'am at 12:15 p.m.

Following an afternoon break, Herzog will meet with the Joint List at 4:45 p.m., B'Yachad at 6 p.m., Yashar at 7:15 p.m., and finally Likud at 8:30 p.m.

During the consultations, each faction will be given an opportunity to recommend a Knesset member to receive the mandate to form the next government.

While the number of recommendations each candidate receives matters, the president is not legally required to select the candidate with the most recommendations. Instead, Herzog must determine which Knesset member has the best chance of successfully forming a government.

Under Basic Law: The Government, the Knesset member entrusted with forming a government has 28 days to assemble a coalition. The president may grant an extension of up to 14 additional days if necessary.

Should the designated candidate fail to form a government, the law provides for further procedures that could see another Knesset member given the opportunity to assemble a coalition.

The consultations will be broadcast live on the president's official social media accounts, allowing the public to follow the parties' recommendations and the opening stages of the coalition-building process.

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