Full coverage· Politics· Updated 9 Nov, 17:32

Netanyahu Calls for Unity Government, Demands Likud Lead

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement on Monday, November 9, 2026, calling for the formation of a national unity government led by his Likud party. The appeal comes after President Isaac Herzog tasked opposition leader and National Unity Party Chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government on Sunday, November 8, 2026, giving him 28 days to assemble a coalition.

3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 9 Nov, 17:00

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What happened

01Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a national unity government led by his Likud party on Monday, November 9, 2026.
02President Isaac Herzog tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government on Sunday, November 8, 2026, giving him 28 days.
03Netanyahu insisted that Likud must lead the coalition as the largest party, having won 27 seats in the election.
04The Likud leader's political bloc holds only 53 seats, falling short of the 61-seat Knesset majority needed to govern.
05Netanyahu explicitly ruled out any coalition that relies on the support of Arab parties, whom he accused of supporting Hamas.
06The proposed unity government should include all national camp factions, ultra-Orthodox parties, and other Zionist parties, according to Netanyahu.
07Gadi Eisenkot responded to coalition efforts by defining unity as a supreme value rather than a political bargaining chip.

Netanyahu stated that the proposed unity government must include all parties of the national camp, including the ultra-Orthodox factions, alongside other Zionist parties. He urged an end to political boycotts and expressed readiness to enter immediate negotiations with any party willing to discuss the matter. However, Netanyahu insisted that the Likud party, which won the most votes and secured 27 seats in the election, must lead the coalition.

At the same time, Netanyahu explicitly rejected any government that relies on the support of Arab parties, whom he accused of being Hamas supporters. He argued that Israel cannot confront Iran and its proxies if the government depends on supporters of extreme Islam. While Likud is the largest party, Netanyahu's bloc holds only 53 seats, falling short of the 61-seat Knesset majority. Meanwhile, Eisenkot has emphasized that unity is a supreme value rather than a political tactic.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 01:51

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