Israeli president warns against repeat election in new Knesset session

What happened: Israeli President Isaac Herzog opened the 26th Knesset and urged lawmakers to investigate the October 7 Hamas attacks and avoid a repeat election, after the vote left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc short of a majority. Key numbers: Netanyahu's bloc fell short of a majority in the Why it matters: Eisenkot and his allies hope to use their legislative power to establish an independent inquiry into the October 7 attacks, which Netanyahu has refused, arguing a Supreme Court-appointed panel would be biased. If neither man forms a coalition, another election could follow.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog opened the 26th Knesset and urged lawmakers to investigate the October 7 Hamas attacks and avoid a repeat election, after the vote left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc short of a majority.

Eisenkot and his allies hope to use their legislative power to establish an independent inquiry into the October 7 attacks, which Netanyahu has refused, arguing a Supreme Court-appointed panel would be biased. If neither man forms a coalition, another election could follow.