Netanyahu Challenges Eisenkot, Bennett and Liberman Over Coalition Partners

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu challenged Gadi Eisenkot, former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman over their prospective coalition partners in a public statement on Wednesday night, November 11. His Telegram post contrasted rejection of Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, with acceptance of a Palestinian anthem, and asked whether these were the partners with whom the three wanted to form a government. Netanyahu ended the statement by declaring: “National unity is the need of the hour.” Earlier on Wednesday, he had opposed forming a government involving Ra’am and the Joint List, which he described as supporters of terrorism, and accused the left of selling out the country. The exchange followed Netanyahu’s November 10 address at the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset. In that speech, he called for national unity in response to the Iranian threat and anticipated international pressure over Israel’s security positions. Addressing the Haredi parties, he opposed a narrow government and promised broad agreement with their spiritual leadership on the status of Torah students and conscription legislation. Responding to that Tuesday speech, Yashar leader Eisenkot condemned it as divisive and called for urgent formation of a national emergency government. During the address, Bennett asked Netanyahu about a state commission of inquiry and his Qatari advisers.