Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the center of a political storm on Tuesday following a speech to the newly elected parliament. The address, delivered two weeks after his far-right bloc lost the general election, was widely described by opponents as a "hate-filled" attack on the Palestinian-led parties now represented in the legislature.
The ceremony took place in Jerusalem, marking the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset. This session was notable for an unprecedented inclusion of 19 members from the Palestinian-led Joint List alliance and the Ra'am party. The significant presence of these members followed a historic surge in voter turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel, which contributed to the defeat of Netanyahu's bloc.
In his opening remarks, Netanyahu emphasized the security threats facing the nation, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear program. He argued that the only way to permanently eliminate this existential danger was by toppling the regime of the ayatollahs. He also took a moment to highlight recent Israeli military achievements in the occupied Palestinian territories, Syria, Lebanon, and Iran.
The tone of the speech shifted as Netanyahu turned his attention to the new parliamentary composition. He urged the formation of a national unity government with Gadi Eisenkot, his main electoral challenger. Netanyahu claimed that only such a broad coalition could meet the current challenges, criticizing Eisenkot's bloc for potentially including what he called "terror supporters" and "haters of Israel."
Although Netanyahu clarified that he was not referring to all Palestinian citizens, some of whom voted for his Likud party, he specifically targeted the ideology of the Ra'am and Joint List parties. He questioned whether those seeking to form a government with these groups were prepared to depend on individuals whose purpose is the destruction of the Jewish state. He asserted, albeit falsely, that both parties agree the Jewish state must be destroyed, a view that contrasts with their repeated calls for a two-state solution.
Reactions from the opposition were immediate and fierce. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett interrupted the speech to question Netanyahu on past commissions of inquiry and the status of Qatar. Yair Golan, leader of the centre-left Democrats, left the chamber mid-speech in protest. The Haaretz newspaper noted that Netanyahu and his media allies had prepared for this confrontation, with loyalist Shin Bet chief David Zini opening investigations into election fraud and foreign interference in the weeks following the vote.
Despite his bloc holding only 53 seats, Netanyahu called for the formation of a Jewish-only government under his leadership. In response, Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming a governing coalition, stated on social media that he was convinced Netanyahu was unfit to remain in office. Eisenkot described the speech as delusional and divisive, adding that it endangered national security. Consequently, he cancelled coalition talks with the Likud party, according to the Israel Hayom newspaper.
An analysis by Ynet highlighted the linguistic focus of the address. The word "Jewish" appeared 20 times, while "unity" was mentioned only four times. In contrast, terms related to Palestinians, Arabs, terrorism, and the Caliphate were used 36 times. Netanyahu did not mention any of the leaders of his opposition bloc during the ceremony.
Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, expressed astonishment that the Prime Minister would use a state occasion to spread what he called blood libel. Abbas told Channel 12 that his party stands for peace and a two-state solution, clarifying that they do not seek to establish an Islamist or Arab state. The left-wing Joint List labeled the speech "deranged, inciting and racist," vowing to remove Netanyahu from power and send his government to the dustbin of history.
