Full coverage· Politics· Updated 11 Nov, 14:16

Netanyahu Calls for Unity After Knesset Swearing-In Speech Sparks Outrage

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the swearing-in ceremony of the 26th Knesset on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, sparked a political firestorm and devolved into chaos. While Netanyahu began by calling for a national unity government to confront existential threats from Iran, he quickly pivoted to attacking Arab parties and the opposition. He accused Arab lawmakers of being terror supporters who hate Israel and deny its right to exist, prompting several members of the Knesset to walk out or be removed.

8 newsrooms · 4 languages · since 10 Nov, 17:45

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What happened

01Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Knesset speech calling for national unity devolved into chaos and shouting on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
02Netanyahu attacked Arab parties as terror supporters who hate Israel, prompting walkouts by Yair Golan and other lawmakers.
03Naftali Bennett interrupted the speech to question Netanyahu about Qatari advisors and the October 7th investigation.
04Gilad Kariv was removed from the Knesset plenum for shouting from his seat during the prime minister's address.
05Gadi Eisenkot called Netanyahu's speech delusional, divisive, full of hate, and shameful, declaring him unfit for office.
06Netanyahu warned ultra-Orthodox parties against joining a narrow government supported by Arab parties with the opposition.
07Mansour Abbas accused Netanyahu of fabricating libels and endangering the security of the citizens of Israel.

The session was marked by shouting and heated exchanges. Naftali Bennett interrupted Netanyahu's speech to demand answers about Qatari advisors and the October 7th investigation, leading to a verbal spat with Itamar Ben-Gvir. Yair Golan demonstratively walked out of the hall, accusing Netanyahu of inciting against the Arab public to remain in power, while Gilad Kariv was removed for shouting from his seat. Sara Netanyahu also interjected during the confrontations.

Netanyahu warned ultra-Orthodox parties against forming a narrow government with the opposition, and urged Gadi Eisenkot to join a unity government. In response, Eisenkot, who currently holds the mandate to form the next government, described Netanyahu's speech as delusional, divisive, full of hate, and shameful. Eisenkot declared Netanyahu unfit to continue as prime minister and called for the immediate formation of a national emergency government.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 7 newsrooms. Updated 11 Nov, 01:51