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Netanyahu Warns Arab Coalition Would Destroy Israel
· Confirmed
In Short: Netanyahu said in a prerecorded video speech that a government dependent on Islamists would dismantle the state of Israel from within, echoing the language of far-right politicians who falsely claim parts of Europe have come under Islamic law, according to Al Jazeera, Arabnews, and The Jerusalem Post.
Eisenkot has 28 days to build a coalition that would end Netanyahu’s long tenure as prime minister, as reported by Al Jazeera. If no government is formed, a new election will be called within 90 days, with Netanyahu staying on as a caretaker prime minister.
Al Jazeera reported that Arab-led parties, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, won a record 19 seats, while Arabnews noted that some 67 lawmakers, including from Arab-led parties, endorsed Eisenkot to form the next government.
Netanyahu has ruled out forming a government with the Arab-led parties, which would give him a 67-seat bloc, as stated by Al Jazeera. He warned that a potential coalition between opposition parties and Arab lists would lead to the collapse of the country, as reported by Arabnews and The Jerusalem Post.
Both Al Jazeera and Arabnews reported that Netanyahu explicitly called for a unity government for the first time since the elections, saying that “this is the time for unity. This is the will of the people; this is the need of the hour. A government that relies on supporters of terror will not fight terror.”
While Al Jazeera reported that Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with the Arab-led parties, The Jerusalem Post noted that some 67 lawmakers, including from Arab-led parties, endorsed Eisenkot to form the next government.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu’s government includes one politician, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was barred from serving in the army in his youth because of his involvement in terrorist groups, and another, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has said Israel needs “to wipe out Gaza” and that it should repeat what it “did in Gaza” in the West Bank, as detailed by Foreign Affairs.
Despite the disagreements over the potential coalition, both Al Jazeera and Arabnews agree that Netanyahu’s hold on power is being tested as Eisenkot attempts to form a new government.
The sources agree that Netanyahu’s warnings about the Arab-led coalition reflect a deep-seated fear of political instability and a potential shift in the balance of power within Israel.
What this adds
The sources have not established a clear timeline for when Netanyahu will make his next move or if Eisenkot will succeed in forming a government.
Background
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hold on power in Israel will be tested Wednesday as President Isaac Herzog begins consultations with leaders of all parties elected to the 26th Knesset before deciding which lawmaker to task with forming the next government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hold on power in Israel is being tested as President Isaac Herzog begins consultations with leaders of all parties elected to the 26th Knesset to determine who will form the next government.
What's confirmed
- “Such a government, dependent on Islamists, will dismantle the state of Israel from within, as is happening in European countries, and far worse than that,” Netanyahu said in a prerecorded video speech, echoing the language of far-right politicians who falsely claim parts of Europe have come under Islamic law.
What's still developing
- It's a setback for Netanyahu, whose party won the most seats but failed to secure a parliamentary majority.
- Humanitarian catastrophe largely ignored as rivals Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu vow to end Hamas rule Humanitarian catastrophe largely ignored as rivals Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu vow to end Hamas rule As Israel prepares to go to the polls, Palestinians in Gaza are bracing for an outcome that could shape their future, knowing their fate rests with the country that has reduced much of the territory to rubble and killed nearly 75,000 people.
- With a week to go before a closely fought election, it seems Netanyahu is treading lightly on the settler attacks in order to avoid alienating political allies whose support he will need after the ballots are counted.
- Netanyahu’s chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot, attended the rally that was an echo of the weekly ones once held to call for the release of hostages taken into Gaza.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel, amid discussions between Washington and Tel Aviv about potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the meeting.