Netanyahu Urges Opposition To Form A National Unity Government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the opposition bloc to avoid teaming up with Arab parties. He instead pushed for a broad national unity government after last week’s tight Knesset election.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the opposition bloc to skip any coalition deal with Arab parties. He wants them to aim for a national unity government instead.

Netanyahu Says Israelis Reject Arab Party Dependence

Netanyahu said Israeli society does not want a government that depends on the Arab parties Ra’am and the United Arab List. He claimed these parties “support terrorism and deny the existence of the Jewish state.”

He laid out his position clearly in a post on X. He wrote:

“From the very first day, we extended our hand to build a broad national unity government. A clear majority of the Jewish population chose Likud as the largest party, and chose me as prime minister for the next government. We want to form a broad government with our partners and with any party that wishes this and does not support terrorism. I am open to dialogue on this matter.”

Knesset Election Results Leave No Clear Majority

Last week’s elections for Israel’s 120-seat Knesset produced a tight outcome. Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, led by Likud, won 53 seats. The opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, won 48 seats. That bloc includes the Yesh, Beyachad, Yisrael Beiteinu and Democrats parties.

The Arab party list became the third-largest force, with 19 seats. As a result, neither bloc reached the 61-seat majority needed to form a government on its own. President Isaac Herzog will now decide who gets the mandate to try. He will make that call after consulting with all parties, starting November 4.

Opposition Parties Back Eisenkot As PM Candidate

On Monday, Israel’s largest opposition parties threw their support behind Eisenkot, head of the Yesh party, as their candidate for prime minister. They said they plan to recommend him as the one who will attempt to form a government.

Most parties in the opposition camp lean right-of-centre. Their views line up with Likud’s on many issues. Even so, opposition leaders have already said they oppose joining any coalition led by the current prime minister.