Netanyahu Seeks Broad Government, Rejects Reliance on Arab Parties
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to form a broad national government, excluding parties that support terrorism like Ra'am and the Joint List. This statement follows election results showing a political deadlock, with Arab parties holding significant influence. Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Gadi Eisenkot criticized Netanyahu's actions as an attempt to undermine democracy. President Isaac Herzog will commence coalition consultations with smaller parties first.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu seeks a broad government, rejecting reliance on Arab parties Ra'am and Joint List.
- Election results show a political deadlock, with Netanyahu's bloc at 53 seats and the opposition at 48.
- Arab parties Ra'am (8 seats) and Joint List (11 seats) are key to forming a majority.
- Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Gadi Eisenkot accuse Netanyahu of trying to overturn election results.
- President Herzog will begin coalition consultations with smaller parties, starting with Religious Zionism-Identity and Shas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the public on Monday, stating his desire to form a broad national government and explicitly ruling out a coalition dependent on the Arab parties Ra'am and the Joint List. Netanyahu characterized these parties as supporters of terrorism who deny the existence of the Jewish state. He emphasized that his outstretched hand has always been towards forming a wide national government, asserting that the Jewish public elected Likud and himself to lead the next government. He expressed openness to discussions with any party that does not support terrorism.
The Prime Minister's statement comes amid a political stalemate following the recent elections. Netanyahu's bloc secured only 53 seats, while the "change bloc" garnered 48. The Arab parties, Ra'am with 8 seats and the Joint List with 11, have become crucial in the balance of power.
In response, Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu and his associates of attempting to undermine the election results because they lost, calling it an effort to dismantle Israeli democracy. Gadi Eisenkot, Chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, also criticized the Likud and Netanyahu, describing their actions as a "desperate holding battle" and a "destructive and violent de-legitimization attack" on the election results and the Central Elections Committee, which he deemed a direct assault on Israeli democracy.
Meanwhile, MKs Michael Malchieli and Yinon Azulai of the Shas party met with Rabbi Moshe Maya, the elder of the Council of Torah Sages, for guidance on their party's recommendation to the President. Rabbi Maya reportedly denied recent rumors about authorizing or discussing coalition negotiations with Gadi Eisenkot, stating he had not spoken to anyone about forming a government since the results were published.
President Isaac Herzog is set to begin consultations with all elected Knesset factions on Wednesday. In an unusual move, he will start with the smaller parties, beginning with the Religious Zionism-Identity party, followed by Shas. This approach aims to explore all available options and potential alternatives for forming a government before meeting with the larger factions.
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