Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is renewing his call for a broad national unity government that would bring together ultra-Orthodox parties and all other Zionist political factions, with his Likud party leading the coalition. In a video statement released on November 9, Netanyahu argued that Israel must unite politically to confront the security challenges posed by Iran and radical Islamist movements. He insisted that Likud, as the largest party in the incoming Knesset with 27 seats, should lead the proposed government. Netanyahu also criticized the possibility of forming a coalition that depends on Arab-led parties, declaring that Israel cannot fight Iran and radical Islam while relying on what he called “Hamas supporters” in government. His remarks were directed at the political arrangements being considered by opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, whose bid to form a government has received support from Arab-led factions. Netanyahu said he was prepared to begin talks immediately with parties willing to consider his unity proposal.

The appeal comes amid a complicated coalition standoff following Israel’s October 27 election, which left no political bloc with the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. Although Likud emerged as the largest individual party, Netanyahu’s wider bloc holds 53 seats, compared with 48 for the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot; Arab-led parties hold the remaining 19. President Isaac Herzog formally gave Eisenkot the mandate to form a government on November 8 after 67 lawmakers recommended him during consultations, compared with 46 who backed Netanyahu. Eisenkot now has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to assemble a coalition capable of winning the Knesset’s confidence. However, his negotiations face competing demands and disagreements over whether Arab-led parties or ultra-Orthodox factions should participate. Netanyahu’s proposal offers one possible route toward a broader coalition, but major political differences remain over who would lead it and which parties would be included.