Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, with a mild and unassuming demeanor, is now under widespread attention as he must decide whom to appoint to form the future government. This decision is particularly significant due to the failure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp and his rival Gadi Eisenkot to gain a majority.
Consultation and Choosing the Right Minister
Herzog will begin consultations with party representatives on Wednesday to select the best option for forming the government. This selection does not mean that the person whose party has the most seats will necessarily be the winner. According to law, the president, who usually has a ceremonial role, has extensive powers and no specific guidelines for his selection.
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Herzog is trying to prevent new elections and has therefore asked all parties to come to the negotiations with an open mind. He stated: "I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind."
Domestic and Foreign Pressures
Herzog has also acknowledged the intense pressures on him, but emphasized that he will not allow foreign influences, especially from Donald Trump, the President of the United States, to affect his decision-making. In an interview with the media, he clarified: "I do not think that the President of the United States or anyone else can interfere in my powers. It is the democracy of Israel and its constitution that matter to me."
Herzog also stressed that he will do everything in his power to prevent new elections, even if this means supporting a unity government between Netanyahu and Eisenkot.
The President of Israel, who was sworn in as president in 2021, has faced many challenges during his tenure. He had previously pressured Netanyahu to seek a pardon in his corruption cases. In April, he invited Netanyahu and his lawyers to discuss this matter at his residence.
Political Background and His Godfather
Before being elected as president, Herzog entered the Israeli parliament in 2003 and worked in various positions, including housing, tourism, and welfare. In 2015, as the leader of the Israeli Labor Party, he attempted to oust Netanyahu from his position and presented himself as a moderate alternative.
Netanyahu, who is now 77 years old, is recognized as Israel's longest-serving prime minister and has been in power for nearly two decades. The recent elections are seen as a referendum on his long tenure, especially after he led the country sharply to the right and responded to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
In an interview in March, Herzog pointed out that the ongoing wars of the United States and Israel with Iran are approaching a "historic turning point" and emphasized that it is time to stop the roots of this crisis stemming from Tehran.
Herzog's father, Chaim Herzog, served as the head of Israeli military intelligence and later as the country's representative to the United Nations and the sixth President of Israel from 1983 to 1993. His grandfather, Yitzhak Herzog, was the first rabbi of Israel for Ashkenazim.
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