Netanyahu Calls for Broad Unity Government at Knesset Opening

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a broad national unity government during his speech at the opening of the 26th Knesset in Jerusalem on Tuesday, November 10. He urged Haredi parties to remain with his political bloc and opposed a narrow government dependent on Ra’am and the Joint List. Netanyahu called for “a broad unity government” against the continuing Iranian threat. He said Israel would face international pressure to give up military achievements and security zones in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Judea and Samaria. He also argued that Ra’am and the Joint List reject the Jewish state’s right to exist, citing statements by lawmakers from those factions. Addressing the Haredi parties, Netanyahu pledged to settle the legal status of yeshiva students through conscription legislation developed in cooperation with their spiritual leadership. Naftali Bennett interrupted Netanyahu during the speech, and Itamar Ben Gvir responded to Bennett. Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats, left the plenum during Netanyahu’s speech. Democrats MK Gilad Kariv criticized other leaders of the change bloc for remaining seated and urged them to leave. Kariv also objected that Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot had not been given a response speech.