Herzog challenges Strock on Arab parties

During the consultations, a sharp exchange erupted between President Herzog and Minister Strock regarding the disqualification of Arab parties. Representatives of Religious Zionism stated that the Arab parties are not legitimate for the process "because they are nationalist" and because they claim, according to Strock, that the establishment of the State of Israel was a "Nakba."

Herzog challenged Strock directly: "How do you distinguish between racism and what you're saying about not sitting with Arabs?" Strock replied: "I think reality made the distinction."

Herzog then pointed to number two on the Ra'am list, Yoav Segalovitz, noting that he was a senior police officer and a fighter. "We need to understand that we live with Arab citizens in Israel," Herzog added. "This generalization really bothers me."

The consultations are unfolding as the Shin Bet continues its investigation into suspected foreign interference in the elections. According to an update the Shin Bet provided to the Central Elections Committee, intelligence points to widespread phenomena of large sums of money flowing into Israel from foreign countries, originating from parties with hidden and even hostile interests.

President Herzog gave full backing this morning to law enforcement and security officials examining the suspicions. "I place my full confidence in the work of the Shin Bet, the police, and law enforcement agencies. Every suspicion of subversive external influence on election results must be investigated thoroughly," Herzog declared when receiving the final results from Elections Committee Chairman, Judge Noam Solberg.

Meanwhile, a meeting took place yesterday at the Prime Minister's Office with representatives of the right-wing bloc parties — Likud, Religious Zionism, and Shas. According to reports, Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister's wife, participated actively and dominantly in the meeting. "They're robbing the country. Stealing our elections. There are foreign countries here that have penetrated and are stealing our sovereignty," Netanyahu said during the meeting, according to the report.

According to Basic Law: The Government, the president must assign the task of forming the government within seven days of the publication of election results. The president assigns the task of forming the government to the Knesset member who has the best chance of assembling a government, typically the one who received the highest number of recommendations or the backing of a majority.

The consultations are expected to continue throughout the day as additional factions arrive at the President's Residence. After completing consultations with all factions elected to the Knesset, President Herzog will assign the mandate to form the government to one of the Knesset members.