Netanyahu Accuses Arab Parties of Seeking Israel's Destruction

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticized Arab parties, specifically Ra'am and the United List, accusing them of aiming to destroy Israel. Speaking before the Knesset on November 10, Netanyahu urged the formation of a unity government and warned his political rivals against forming a coalition relying on the votes of these Arab parties. This address followed Netanyahu's loss of a parliamentary majority in the previous month's elections, after which President Isaac Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Party, with forming a government.

Netanyahu asserted that the Iranian nuclear threat could only be neutralized by overthrowing the Iranian regime. His attacks on the Arab parties are part of an ongoing campaign to delegitimize them, which he conducted throughout the election campaign by portraying them as supporters of terrorism. He argued that in the face of Iranian threats, lawmakers must set aside differences to establish a national unity government.

"In the face of these threats, we must do one thing in this house: set aside all other considerations and create a government of national unity," Netanyahu stated. He referred to the Arab parliamentarians as "supporters of terrorism who hate Israel" and cautioned his rivals against depending on their support. "Are you ready to rely on people whose goal is the destruction of the Jewish state? Are these the people in whose hands you would entrust the fate of our country?" he questioned.

Netanyahu dismissed any distinction between the Ra'am party, which has expressed willingness to join a coalition led by Eisenkot, and the United List, accusing both of rejecting Israel's existence as a Jewish state. "The only difference is that they disagree on what kind of state should be created here, on the ruins of the Jewish state," Netanyahu claimed.

Eisenkot is currently attempting to unite 67 parliamentary mandates from Netanyahu's opponents to form a new coalition. The issue of cooperation with Arab parties has become a central point of contention among his potential partners. The outcome of this dispute will determine the composition of Israel's future government. If Eisenkot's bloc decides to rely on the votes of Ra'am and the United List, they could form a coalition, and Netanyahu's attacks are increasing pressure on the bloc's potential partners regarding this matter.