Wire reporting: (AFP, via SCMP)

JERUSALEM — Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he will on Sunday name a member of the Knesset to try to form a government, after an Oct. 27 election left neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor former military chief Gadi Eisenkot with a majority^1,5.

Herzog told the public that 67 of 120 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot, 46 recommended Netanyahu and seven abstained^5,3. Consultations with party leaders ended Thursday¹.

No bloc reached the 61 seats needed to govern on its own^1,6. Netanyahu's right-wing and religious alliance holds 53 seats, four Jewish-led parties aligned with Eisenkot hold 48, and Arab-led lists hold a record 19^1,6,7.

Eisenkot's recommendation lead depends on those Arab-led parties^1,2. The Joint List, with 11 seats, said it would tell Herzog it backs Eisenkot, and Ra'am, with eight seats, also said it would recommend him^2,4. Eisenkot has ruled out bringing the Arab-led parties into a government, Al Jazeera reported¹.

United Torah Judaism, a longtime Netanyahu ally with seven seats, recommended neither candidate, the president's office said, after a dispute over writing a military-service exemption for ultra-Orthodox men into law^4,2. Shas endorsed Netanyahu, Al Jazeera reported¹.

Herzog has not said whom he will tap, telling parties that recommendation numbers can mask "mutual vetoes" inside and between blocs¹. He earlier told party leaders that not every campaign promise can be kept if they want to avoid another election⁶. Traditionally the mandate goes to the candidate with more recommendations, AFP-run accounts noted^3,4.

Netanyahu has said, without evidence accepted by election officials, that foreign-backed fraud affected the vote^2,6. Israel's Central Elections Committee certified the results and said it found no evidence that the integrity of the vote was compromised^2,7. Herzog accepted the certified count and opened talks⁸.

The National reported that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said elected officials cannot be interrogated without justifying evidence, after reports that Shin Bet chief David Zini sought to question Arab politicians over alleged foreign influence⁷. CEC chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg said lawfully determined results are binding⁷.

If no coalition forms, Netanyahu would remain as caretaker and another election would be possible¹. A unity arrangement excluding Arab-led parties is discussed, but many of Netanyahu's rivals have ruled out serving under him¹. What Herzog will decide Sunday, and whether Eisenkot can assemble 61 seats without Arab ministers, remains unknown^1,5.