Netanyahu says coalition with Arab parties would ‘dismantle’ Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Saturday that a potential coalition between opposition parties and Arab lists would "dismantle" Israel, echoing claims made by far-right European politicians who assert that parts of the continent have succumbed to Islamic law. The statement came as Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced the roles each party would play in forming the next government following last week's closely contested election, with Netanyahu's rivals positioning themselves for the task of removing the country's longest-serving prime minister.

The opposition, led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief and political newcomer, has indicated openness towards forming a coalition with ultra-Orthodox Jews and the moderate Islamist party Raam, whose leader acknowledged Israel as a "Jewish state." Such a government, dependent on Islamist parties, would "dismantle the State of Israel from within," Netanyahu argued, drawing parallels to what he perceives as similar scenarios in European countries.

Neither side secured a majority in the October 27th election, reflecting the deep polarization within Israel resulting from Netanyahu's hard-right rule and the strain of three years of conflict. On Thursday, Herzog, after consultations with all parties, stated that giving the mandate to Eisenkot, endorsed by 67 factions compared to 46 for Netanyahu's bloc, would be logical. He has also signaled his interest in exploring a national unity government that could unite Jewish Israelis from both factions.

Netanyahu reaffirmed his support for a national unity government, though he stopped short of asserting his leadership in such a coalition. Yashar, the party of Eisenkot, urged Netanyahu's allies and members of Likud to join hands and form a unity government led by Eisenkot. If Likud and its allies were genuinely interested in "unity" and a broad government, they were invited to publicly dissolve their alliance with extremist elements and express their willingness to participate in a government under Eisenkot's leadership.