HighLights
  1. President Isaac Herzog consults party leaders on government formation.
  2. Ultra-Orthodox faction refuses to recommend Netanyahu for PM during meeting with President.
  3. Netanyahu has warned against coalition with Arab parties, calling them terror supporters.

Israel Government Formation: The political battle to form Israel’s next government has intensified, as President Isaac Herzog began meeting party leaders on Wednesday to decide who should get the first chance to form the government. The meeting has proved to be another setback for Netanyhu as a faction of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party announced that it would not recommend Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister.

Prez Herzog Begins Talks With Party Leaders

According to Times of Israel report, Herzog began consultations with political parties at his residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday. The meeting will continue for two days, with smaller parties meeting him first. Netanyah’s Likud party is expected to meet him on Thursday. Under Israeli law, party leaders are consulted first to recommend a candidate for prime minister. After hearing their views, the President then chooses the lawmaker he believes has the best chance of bringing enough parties together to form a government.

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Haredi Faction Refuses To Back Netanyahu For PM

In the meeting, the Degel HaTorah faction of UTJ stated that it would not recommend any candidate for prime minister. The decision comes as a surprise as ultra-Orthodox parties have traditionally been among Netanyahu's closest political allies. The faction holds four of UTJ's seven seats in the Knesset. The decision was reportedly taken following instructions from their senior religious leaders, Rabbis Dov Lando and Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

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The remaining three UTJ lawmakers belong to the Agudat Yisrael faction, which has not yet confirmed whether it will support Netanyahu. The development further highlights the growing differences between Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties over military service. These parties have long sought exemptions from compulsory military service for Haredi men.

Why Is This Setback For Netanyahu?

However, the Israel's Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that blanket exemptions were illegal. As the Netanyahu government failed to pass a new law protecting these exemptions, Shas and UTJ left the coalition in July 2025. Meanwhile, several other parties have already announced their choices. Likud, Shas, Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit have said they will recommend Netanyahu. On the other hand, Yashar, the Democrats, B’Yachad, Yisrael Beytenu and Ra'am have backed Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot.

The Arab-led Joint List has not announced its position as of now. However, Ra'am, earlier declared its support for Eisenkot. With more recommendations coming in his favour, Eisenkot is likely to receive the first opportunity to form the next government.

Netanyahu Warns Against Coalition With Arab Parties

Meanwhile, Netanyahu has also called for a broad national government under Likud's leadership. He has strongly opposed the possibility of a left-wing government that depends on Arab parties for support. In a video message, Netanyahu accused the left-wing bloc of trying to form a government with the support of Arab parties, whom he described as supporters of terror. He argued that such an arrangement would weaken Israel from within and affect its ability to deal with security threats.

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