EASTORA REPORT | Benjamin Netanyahu called for national unity in Israel’s newly sworn-in parliament. Hours later, the opposition leader tasked with forming a government canceled talks with his party. In between came a speech accusing Arab lawmakers of seeking Israel’s destruction.
Speaking at the opening of the 26th Knesset in Jerusalem on Tuesday, November 10, the caretaker prime minister urged lawmakers to set differences aside. “We must do one thing: set aside every other consideration and form a national unity government,” he said, warning that Iran was reviving its nuclear program and calling for the overthrow of its rulers.
But his invitation had firm limits. Netanyahu attacked Ra’am and the Joint List, warning against relying on their votes. “Are you prepared to be dependent on those whose purpose is the destruction of the Jewish state?” he asked. In a November 7 video, he declared: “A government dependent on radical Islam will not fight radical Islam.”
Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 of the Knesset’s 120 seats in the October 27 election. Parties aligned with Gadi Eisenkot hold 48, while Arab-led parties won 19. President Isaac Herzog has tasked Eisenkot with forming a government, but assembling a majority remains difficult. His deadline is December 6, with an extension possible.
The speech drew angry interruptions. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett interrupted Netanyahu with questions about his advisers’ alleged ties to Qatar and demands for an inquiry into the October 7 attacks. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas replied: “We are law-abiding citizens of Israel.”
In separate remarks circulated Tuesday, Netanyahu invoked Jewish survival through centuries of persecution. “The Romans tried to erase us. The Nazis tried to exterminate us,” he said, adding: “We’re here, stronger than ever.” His message was equally direct: “Don’t apologize for Israel. Be proud of it.”
Eisenkot condemned the address as divisive and canceled talks scheduled with Likud for Wednesday. Likud insisted its door remained open. Eisenkot’s party answered that Netanyahu’s speech had shown one thing: “Netanyahu does not want unity.”