Netanyahu Warns Against Arab Parties, Calls for Unity Government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a sharp speech during the swearing-in ceremony for the 26th Knesset, warning against the formation of a government reliant on Arab parties and highlighting potential international pressure regarding Iran's nuclear program. Netanyahu asserted that the only way to permanently remove the existential threat posed by Iran is by overthrowing its regime, cautioning that Israel will soon face international pressure to accept a nuclear Iran and its ruling government.

He emphasized the necessity of a national unity government to confront these security challenges, stating, "We must do one thing in this house: put aside all other considerations and establish a national unity government. Only it can deal with such immense challenges."

Netanyahu strongly criticized the prospect of a government that includes or depends on parties he described as "terror supporters who hate Israel." He questioned the willingness to rely on those aiming to destroy the Jewish state, contrasting them with Zionist parties representing a vast Zionist public, including soldiers, heroes, and bereaved families. He dismissed the notion of a significant difference between the "moderate" Ra'am and the "extreme" Joint List, arguing both fundamentally reject Israel's existence as a Jewish state, differing only on whether an Islamic or Palestinian nationalist state would rise from its ruins.

Citing Mansour Abbas, Netanyahu recalled a statement that Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount do not belong to Jews, whom he called "invaders." He also appealed to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties not to join a "change bloc" government, warning that promises made to them would evaporate once a left-wing government is formed. He stressed the importance of preserving Israel's Jewish identity and jointly addressing the status of Torah scholars and the draft law with broad consensus.

During his address, MK Naftali Bennett interrupted Netanyahu's speech, an action described as unprecedented for the traditional ceremony.