'We must do everything to avoid new elections,' Israeli President Herzog declares

Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged political leaders on Wednesday to approach coalition talks with an open mind, warning against another election as partial results showed neither of the two main blocs securing a majority.

“We must do everything to avoid new elections,” Herzog said a day after the legislative vote.

Speaking at his Jerusalem residence during a meeting held under his “Time to Talk” initiative, the president praised what he described as a “truly impressive” election day, with turnout reaching its highest level in decades.

“It is entirely to the credit of Israeli society. It was remarkable to see how deeply the aspiration for democracy is rooted in Israel,” he said.

Herzog is due to receive the official results next week from Central Election Committee chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg. He will then consult representatives of each party elected to the Knesset as the process of forming a government begins.

“I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind,” he said.

His appeal recalled the political deadlock that sent Israelis to the polls four times between April 2019 and March 2021. Elections in April and September 2019, followed by votes in March 2020 and March 2021, repeatedly failed to produce a lasting governing majority.

Another impasse would not, however, immediately remove Benjamin Netanyahu from office. Under Israel’s Basic Law, the outgoing government remains in place until a successor is formed, including if another election is required.

That continuity could give Netanyahu a political advantage, allowing him to remain at the head of government throughout coalition negotiations and, if talks fail, during another campaign. It does not establish that he would seek to obstruct an agreement or that a fresh vote would deliver a similar outcome.

Seeking to prevent a return to repeated elections, Herzog urged parties to look beyond their differences and existing commitments.

“We must do everything we can, especially after yesterday, to avoid another election,” he said.