Herzog to Begin Talks After Israel Election Deadlock

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is due to begin consultations with elected parliamentary factions on November 4, starting the process of choosing who will try to form a government after an inconclusive election left every bloc short of a majority. The reported seat allocation is 53 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc, 48 for the non-Arab opposition and 19 for Arab parties in the 120-member Knesset. A government needs support from 61 lawmakers. Netanyahu remains prime minister while parties negotiate, under the rules governing the transition to a successor government. Herzog’s consultations are scheduled to continue through November 5. He is to hear each faction’s recommendation for a candidate and then select a lawmaker to attempt to assemble a coalition. The president’s choice does not have to be the leader of the largest party. His office said the meetings would be broadcast live and that smaller factions would be heard before larger ones. The person selected will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible extension of up to 14 days. If that attempt fails, Herzog can appoint another candidate. Further procedures may follow if that candidate also cannot form a...