Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said that the formation of a national unity government was still possible, a day after accusing Arab lawmakers of supporting “terrorism” and seeking Israel’s “destruction” in a speech in the Knesset, The Times of Israel reported.
Israel government formation deadlock
However, his proposal for a unity government would also reportedly require the inclusion of all his previous coalition allies, including the ultranationalist Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit factions, as well as the ultra-Orthodox parties and his Likud party. President Isaac Herzog has reportedly given Netanyahu’s political rival, Gadi Eisenkot, the mandate to form the next government.
The Israeli prime minister also said he would continue reaching out to potential coalition partners, adding that the country faced significant challenges as well as opportunities. Netanyahu had warned against forming a government with Arab parties, which he has described as supporters of terrorism, arguing that such an arrangement would threaten Israel’s future, according to The Times of Israel.
Speaking to reporters in the Knesset premises, Netanyahu struck a different tone from his remarks a day earlier, reiterating his call for political unity amid the ongoing government-formation process. “Yesterday I said why a national unity government is necessary. Today I want to say why it’s possible,” Netanyahu told reporters.
