Netanyahu Warns Against Arab Party Support in Coalition Talks
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned against forming a government with the support of Arab parties, stating it would "destroy us from within" and undermine national security. He also called for a broad national government and demanded a full investigation into suspected foreign interference in recent elections. The comments come as President Isaac Herzog continues consultations to form a new government.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned a government supported by Arab parties would "destroy us from within."
- Netanyahu identified radical Islam as a major internal and external threat to Israel.
- He accused opposition parties of prioritizing political interests by seeking support from parties he called close to terrorism.
- Netanyahu demanded a full investigation into suspected foreign interference and significant sums influencing recent Israeli elections.
- The Prime Minister called for a broad national government uniting right-wing and Zionist parties.
- President Isaac Herzog is continuing consultations to form a new government amid a Knesset majority deadlock.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly denounced efforts by the opposition to form a government coalition with the support of Arab parties, warning it would "destroy us from within." In a video statement on Wednesday, Netanyahu identified radical Islam as a primary threat to Israel, both externally from Iran and its proxies, and internally from Islamist parties he accused of supporting terrorism.
Netanyahu asserted that a government reliant on these parties would be incapable of ensuring the country's security. He accused them of seeking to undermine Israel's Jewish character and its defensive capabilities, citing statements by Arab political figures that he claimed glorified martyrdom or portrayed Hamas as a charity. He also condemned tributes to imprisoned Nukhba force terrorists, stating such a government "would not fight our enemies, but would disintegrate us from within. It is a matter of life and death for us."
Facing this prospect, the Likud leader reiterated his call for a broad national government under his leadership, uniting right-wing and willing Zionist parties. He criticized left-wing bloc leaders for prioritizing political interests over national ones by imposing what he deemed impossible conditions, accusing them of seeking to establish a minority government backed by parties he described as close to terrorism.
Netanyahu also addressed suspicions of foreign interference in the recent legislative elections, citing "serious suspicions concerning the involvement of foreign countries, through considerable sums, to influence the election results in Israel." He noted that Central Election Committee President Noam Sohlberg had ordered the Shin Bet to open a security investigation and remove any obstacles. Netanyahu fully supported this decision, demanding a thorough investigation to uncover the truth, emphasizing that "the integrity of elections is the foundation of democracy."
These statements come amid ongoing consultations by President Isaac Herzog to designate the next prime minister, with neither major bloc holding an absolute majority in the Knesset.
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