Government formation row deepens as Netanyahu seeks National Unity alliance
Jerusalem, November 7: The political battle over the formation of a new government in Israel has intensified. After losing a majority in the elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appealed for the formation of a ‘national unity’ government.
He urged opposition parties to form a government with all of his outgoing coalition partners, calling any government supported by Arab parties a threat to the country’s security.
Netanyahu alleged that Arab parties want to destroy Israel and that a government dependent on their support would be unable to take effective action against Hamas. He also expressed concern about the safety of Israeli soldiers deployed in Gaza and Lebanon. Citing recent violent protests in Europe, he expressed fears of a civil war-like situation in Israel.
Netanyahu’s proposed unity government is said to include his Likud party, as well as the far-right Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. However, he did not clarify his position on the government’s leadership.
In the October 27 elections, Netanyahu’s coalition won 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the four-party alliance led by Gadi Eizenkot won 48 seats. Two Arab parties have 19 seats and are supporting Eizenkot.
