President Herzog's second consultation day opened with United Torah Judaism refusing to endorse anyone, saying it was bound to no bloc and would back whoever delivered a draft law without quotas or sanctions, framed as a blow to Netanyahu. Otzma Yehudit nominated Netanyahu while claiming fraud, drawing Herzog's retort that Ben-Gvir may have driven Arab turnout. The Democrats, Ra'am, the Joint List, B'Yachad and Yashar then backed Gadi Eisenkot, securing 67 recommenders to Netanyahu's 46. Mansour Abbas urged a flash emergency government and Hamas disarmament but would not label Hamas terrorist. Herzog said he would assign the mandate Sunday, as Avigdor Liberman lifted his veto on ultra-Orthodox partners.
Washington fallout lingered, with reports of billions in arms orders beyond US aid and speculation Trump, freed by midterm defeat, could still strike Iran.