Netanyahu Calls for Broad Patriotic Government, Rules Out Reliance on Arab Parties

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday called for the establishment of a broad national coalition that would bring additional political factions into the government alongside his existing allies, while firmly rejecting any arrangement dependent on Ra’am or other Arab parties he accused of supporting terrorism and opposing Israel’s identity as a Jewish state.

Netanyahu’s remarks come as Israeli political leaders weigh their options following last week’s Knesset elections, which left the country facing complicated coalition negotiations and renewed questions about which parties will ultimately determine the composition of the next government.

“The Israeli public does not want a government that depends on Ra’am and its partners, parties that support terror and deny the existence of a Jewish state,” Netanyahu stated.

The prime minister emphasized that he has been prepared to negotiate a wider coalition since the election results became known, presenting his proposal as an opportunity to establish a government with support extending beyond his traditional political bloc.

“From the first day, our hand was out to form a broad patriotic government,” he declared.

Netanyahu also argued that the election outcome demonstrated continued public support for his leadership, pointing specifically to the strength of Likud among Jewish voters and its standing as the largest party in the Knesset.

“A clear majority of the Jewish public chose the Likud to be the largest party and me, as prime minister, to lead the next government.”

The prime minister’s appeal comes against the backdrop of a parliamentary stalemate that has left both major political blocs short of the 61 seats required to establish a governing majority. Netanyahu’s existing alliance secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition parties aligned with Gadi Eisenkot obtained 48. The Arab parties, including Ra’am and the Joint List, won a combined 19 seats, placing them in a potentially influential position during coalition negotiations.

Likud emerged as the largest individual party with 27 seats, followed by Eisenkot’s Yashar party with 21. Netanyahu’s bloc includes United Torah Judaism with seven seats, Shas with six, Otzma Yehudit with seven, and Religious Zionism with six, meaning the prime minister would need the support of at least eight additional lawmakers to secure a majority.

The prime minister has made clear that his preferred solution is to attract additional parties into a coalition built around his existing partners, rather than dismantle his current political alliance. His invitation could place pressure on opposition figures who campaigned against him but may now face a choice between joining a broader government and risking another election.

Eisenkot has also been pursuing coalition possibilities, outlining principles that potential partners would need to accept before joining a government under his leadership. The opposition faces its own difficulties, particularly because several parties have expressed reservations about relying on Arab factions to establish a parliamentary majority.

Under Israel’s coalition formation process, President Isaac Herzog will consult with representatives of the elected parties after the official results are submitted to him on Wednesday. Herzog will then select the Knesset member he believes has the strongest prospect of assembling a government. That candidate will initially receive 28 days to complete negotiations, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.

Netanyahu ended his remarks by reiterating that his invitation remains open to political factions prepared to participate in a government consistent with his stated principles.

“We aspire to form a broad party with our partners and with any party that wants to and does not support terrorism. I am open to discussing the matter,” Netanyahu concluded.