Netanyahu Rejects Arab Party Support, Offers to Form Broad National Government
Benjamin Netanyahu has offered to form a broad national government but rejected Arab party support. Meanwhile, Avigdor Lieberman has refused to join his coalition and backed Gadi Eisenkot as an alternative.
In a post on X on Monday, Netanyahu said the Israeli public did not want a government that depended on the support of Arab parties such as Ra'am and the Joint List. He accused these parties of supporting terrorism and refusing to recognise the existence of the Jewish state.
Netanyahu said his Likud party had emerged as the largest party in the elections and claimed that the public had given him the mandate to form the next government. He added that his party had been working from the very first day to bring all sides together and establish a broad national government.
While Netanyahu has made it clear that he will not form a government dependent on Arab party support, opposition parties are also continuing their efforts to put together an alternative government.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has categorically refused to join a government led by Netanyahu. According to reports, Lieberman said his party would propose the name of Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot before the President as its candidate to form the next government.
However, Lieberman also criticised Eisenkot's election campaign, saying he had failed to bring the entire opposition together. He argued that this failure had resulted in opposition parties securing a combined total of 48 seats.
Lieberman also ruled out any possibility of forming a government with Netanyahu, making it clear that he would not serve in an administration led by the Israeli Prime Minister.
With Netanyahu insisting on forming a broad national government without relying on Arab parties and Lieberman refusing to join his coalition, the efforts to establish Israel's next government remain politically uncertain.

Comment List