Netanyahu renews call for unity government with opponent

Israel's former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again urged the creation of a national unity government alongside his rival, Gadi Eisenkot. In a video statement, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of such a government to ensure Israel's security. He claimed that a unity government could vanquish the Iranian threat once and for all.

The proposed government would consist of parties that acknowledge Israel as a state for the Jewish people and would tackle security challenges, particularly the looming threat of Iran, which Netanyahu believes would not hesitate to employ nuclear weapons against the nation.

Following the recent election, Eisenkot, who secured the support of 67 politicians, has been assigned the task of forming a new government within 28 days, with a possible extension of 14 days. However, forming this government is expected to be a challenging endeavor, especially given Netanyahu's recent efforts to tarnish the image of Arab-Israeli parties, which emerged victorious in the election, garnering the largest number of seats ever.

Netanyahu's envisioned unity government would unite prominent Jewish parties from the center and right, excluding Arab parties. He has expressed openness to collaborating with members of his own Likud party and outgoing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party, provided their dedication to unity remains genuine. Yet, a unity government with Netanyahu himself seems improbable, especially after Eisenkot dismissed his "racist" campaign against Arab parties.