Israeli President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results of the Oct. 27 parliamentary election and began consultations with party leaders on Nov. 4, after neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc won a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu’s bloc has 53 seats and Eisenkot’s has 48, while two Arab-led parties won a combined 19 [pbs.org][aljazeera.com][france24.com]. The Central Elections Committee said its review found no irregularities that compromised the vote or changed the result. Netanyahu and his allies have alleged that Arab-led parties received foreign support but have not publicly substantiated the claims. A separate Shin Bet inquiry continues; the committee’s chairman said any suspected interference would have a limited effect, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara rejected a request to question Arab lawmakers without supporting evidence [theglobeandmail.com][bbc.co.uk][thehindu.com]. Herzog is consulting parties through Thursday and must choose by Nov. 11 whom to ask to form a government. The Arab party Ra’am has recommended Eisenkot, but opposition parties differ over cooperation with Arab factions. The lawmaker chosen gets 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension; failure to form a coalition could lead to another election early next year [uol.com.br][aljazeera.com][bluewin.ch]. Highlights: • Audit findings: Election officials reviewed 9,069 polling stations; the committee approved certification by a vote of 15 to two, with 14 members abstaining [france24.com][dawn.com]. • Coalition arithmetic: Ra’am’s eight seats could lift Eisenkot’s prospective backing to 56, but support remains uncertain given the Joint List alliance’s 11 seats and several opposition parties’ reluctance to work with Arab factions [aljazeera.com][yna.co.kr][timesofisrael.com]. • Shin Bet assessment: The agency described a widespread influx of substantial funds into Israel from foreign states, including hostile countries, but provided no evidence for the assertion [theglobeandmail.com][pbs.org]. • Public cost: A new election could cost Israel more than $1 billion and prolong political gridlock, according to The Times of Israel [timesofisrael.com]. • Mandate rules: The president may choose the lawmaker he considers most likely to form a coalition, not necessarily the leader of the largest party [bbc.co.uk]. Perspectives: Israeli President Isaac Herzog: Herzog urged parties to accept that they may have to set aside campaign promises to avert another election and condemned racist rhetoric aimed at Arab Israelis [thehindu.com]. (The Hindu) Israel's Central Elections Committee: The committee’s chairman, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, warned that casting doubt on legally binding results could damage public trust in the electoral process [pbs.org]. (PBS NewsHour) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Netanyahu cited election-day arrests involving cash envelopes, which authorities described as localized incidents, and accused Arab party leaders of accepting money from Qatar—a claim also leveled against his own aides [dawn.com][france24.com]. (Dawn) Joint List of Arab parties: The alliance called the proposed questioning of Arab lawmakers a campaign of incitement intended to delegitimize Arab voters [bbc.co.uk][pbs.org]. (BBC News) Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot: Eisenkot said he would renew Israel’s bipartisan relationship with the United States and work with President Donald Trump on regional stability if he became prime minister [dawn.com]. (Dawn) "The elections are over. Now is the time to face reality." — Israeli President Isaac Herzog Sources: • Israel’s President to begin talks with party leaders on formation of a new government - theglobeandmail.com • Israel President urges compromise after divisive election - thehindu.com • Israel's president begins consultations with parties after election deadlock - bbc.co.uk • Israel's president takes first steps on building new government after accepting election results - pbs.org • Israel’s President Starts Talks on Whether Netanyahu or Eisenkot Can Form a Government - nytimes.com • Israel president urges compromise after divisive election - dawn.com • Israel’s Herzog accepts vote results, opens talks on forming a government - aljazeera.com • "Time To Face Reality": Israel President Holds Talks On New Government - ndtv.com • Israel’s President accepts certified election results in a blow to Netanyahu’s claim of vote fraud - thehindu.com • Israel’s president holds crucial cards in breaking post-election deadlock - straitstimes.com • As post-election deadlock looms, could Trump whip sides into an unlikely unity deal? - timesofisrael.com • Israels Präsident empfängt Parteichefs zu Gesprächen wegen Regierungsbildung - derstandard.at • Israel's President Herzog accepts certified election results, urges compromise to form government - france24.com • Israël : le président appelle au compromis après les élections - bluewin.ch • Israel's president urges compromise after divisive election - lemonde.fr • Izrael: Netanyahu bez većine, oporba predložila Eisenkota za mandatara - hrt.hr • Israel president accepts election results, begins government talks - samaa.tv • Presidente de Israel pide compromiso para evitar nuevas elecciones - diariolibre.com • Sem vencedor claro após eleições, presidente de Israel busca acordo para formar governo - uol.com.br • Presidente de Israel aceita resultado das eleições e inicia consultas para novo governo - r7.com • Israel election: No fraud found; Netanyahu, Eisenkot begin coalition talks - Govt formation process, timeline explained - livemint.com • Israels Präsident führt Gespräche zur Regierungsbildung - orf.at • Israel’s president takes first steps on building new government after election - irishnews.com • 네타냐후 거취는…이스라엘 대통령, 정당별 연정 협의 착수 - yna.co.kr • Israel President Urges Compromise After Divisive Election - aawsat.com • إسرائيل بلا فائز.. أزمة الأغلبية تهدد بانتخابات جديدة - skynewsarabia.com • Israel. Comissão Eleitoral ratifica resultados e diz que lançar dúvidas é um “perigo real” para a democracia - sapo.pt • Predsjednik Izraela priznao izborne rezultate i krenuo u konsultacije o formiranju nove vlade - rtnk.me • El Comité Electoral de Israel confirma los resultados de los comicios y advierte del “peligro” de cuestionar su veracidad - elpais.com • Predsednik Izraela priznao izborne rezultate i krenuo u konsultacije o formiranju nove vlade - danas.rs • Israels Präsident Herzog startet Konsultationen zur Regierungsbildung - tagesschau.de • İsrail'de seçimlerin kesin sonuçları Herzog'a sunuldu: Bundan sonra ne olacak? - birgun.net • Israel: Präsident Isaac Herzog sucht Regierungschef, arabische Partei unterstützt Eisenkot - spiegel.de --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News