Herzog urges Israeli leaders to keep open minds, avoid another election after deadlock

Previous presidents have used their positions to encourage political leaders to consider forming unity coalitions.

President Isaac Herzog called on political leaders to approach coalition negotiations with open minds on Wednesday, warning that Israel must do everything possible to avoid another round of elections following Tuesday's vote for the 26th Knesset.

"One thing must be understood, and I said this even before the elections: We must do everything, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections. Therefore, I expect everyone who comes here to arrive with an open mind," Herzog said, referring to the consultations expected to take place at the President's Residence.

Previous presidential intervention during political deadlocks 

Previous presidents have used their positions to encourage political leaders to consider forming unity coalitions.

In 2019, after the election for the 22nd Knesset, then-president Reuven Rivlin lobbied Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz to form a unity government. He proposed an equal government structure and changes to the arrangements surrounding incapacity and the position of acting prime minister to resolve the political impasse.

In 1984, Israel's sixth president and Isaac Herzog's father, Chaim Herzog, described using his position to advocate for a unity government between the Alignment party and Likud.

"I had to try to bring together the different elements rather than allow the dynamics of events to lead to the development of a dangerous split," he wrote.

When the deadlock continued, Herzog granted Shimon Peres additional time to form a government. Later, when negotiations reached an impasse, he wrote that he "acted to establish a small negotiating team," including representatives from Likud and the Labor Party. Days later, Peres and Yitzhak Shamir’s unity government was presented, built around a rotation agreement.

Israel's consul general in New York speaks in favor of unity government

The Consul General of Israel in New York and a member of the Likud party, Ofir Akunis, posted on X/Twitter calling for a "broad national unity government."

He argued that Israeli society voted and called on parties to unify for the sake of "the Jews of the Diaspora."

"I have said this before the elections, and I say it now. Our unity is the most important thing now," Akunis wrote.