Herzog Begins Consultations on Israel's Next Prime Minister

Israeli President Isaac Herzog began a second day of consultations with political parties on 5 November, as he works toward choosing a candidate to form the next government. Herzog had earlier accepted the certified results of the election, the Associated Press reported.

Consultations are the talks in which the president meets each party and hears whom it recommends. According to AFP, Herzog planned an initial two days of these meetings before selecting a candidate. That candidate would then have 28 days to try to form a government, a period that could be extended by 14 days.

Parties have started to state their preferences. The far-right Otzma Yehudit party nominated Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister, according to the Jerusalem Post. Netanyahu's Likud party also backed him to form the next government, Anadolu Agency reported.

Several opposition parties supported Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, to form the government, the same report said. Yashar was scheduled to meet Herzog at 7:15 p.m. on the second day of consultations, and Likud at 8:30 p.m., according to The Times of Israel.

Not every party has settled its position. The Arab-led Joint List had yet to announce its recommendation for prime minister. i24 News reported that United Torah Judaism would not recommend any candidate to form the next government.