New Delhi, Nov. 4 -- Israel is set to enter weeks of political negotiations after the country's election commission certified the results of last week's parliamentary vote, confirming that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist bloc nor the alliance led by his main challenger, opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, secured the majority needed to form a government.

President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results on Wednesday and is preparing to begin consultations with representatives of the parties elected to parliament. The consultations will determine which political leader is best positioned to assemble a governing coalition.

The process could involve difficult negotiations with smaller parties, possible cr...