Israeli President Isaac Herzog received the country’s official election results today and began his interviews with the Knesset’s 11 parties, prior to selecting someone to form the next government. Upon receiving the results, he promptly disassociated himself from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s racist campaign of accusing the Arabs of stealing the election. Herzog stated: “I hold Arab society in Israel in great respect. I value its contribution to the country in every area of life, and its desire to integrate. This is something to be welcomed. I condemn the coarseness and racist expressions that we have heard recently.”

The likelihood that Herzog will turn to Gadi Eisenkot for the first chance to form a governing coalition, increased today with the brief statement by the Islamic-based Ra’am party that they will recommend Eisenkot. With this endorsement, Eisenkot is backed for becoming the next prime minister by 56 Knesset members to Netanyahu’s 53. The Arab-led Joint List has the remaining 11 seats. Even if they abstain from a recommendation, they would still offer to Herzog an indication of how they could cooperate with Eisenkot.

Netanyahu has no pathway to the position except to break up Eisenkot’s bloc. Opposition party Yisrael Beytenu’s Avigdor Lieberman—the weak link—met with Herzog today, after reiterating that he also will recommend Eisenkot. However, it remains to be seen whether Lieberman will approve of whatever governing arrangement Eisenkot makes with Ra’am and the Joint List. Ra’am has offered to get Eisenkot chosen without requiring any cabinet position and the Joint List may cooperate in Knesset votes, also without being part of Eisenkot’s cabinet.