Jerusalem, 10 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the swearing-in ceremony of the 26th Knesset to urge Yashar! Party leader Gadi Eisenkot once again not to form a government dependent on the support of Arab parties, which won 19 seats in the election. Netanyahu has waged a weekslong campaign questioning the legitimacy of cooperation with the Arab factions.
At the ceremony, a formal state occasion that includes the traditional group photograph of party leaders, Netanyahu challenged Eisenkot: “You want to establish a government with terror supporters and Israel-haters. Can we complete our missions in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria with them? Everyone here has a responsibility to safeguard the country’s existence, future, and security. So, I ask again: with whom will you form a government? With people who visit despicable terrorists in hospitals? With people who dedicate their recent achievements in the Knesset to Hamas murderers?”
Netanyahu spoke after Channel 12 reported Monday that his close associate Natan Eshel had reportedly contacted Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas before and after the election to dissuade him from supporting Eisenkot for prime minister. Eshel denied conducting political negotiations, saying their conversations were general in nature.
Netanyahu also called for an investigation into allegations of foreign interference in Israel’s elections, particularly in the Arab sector, saying: “There must not be a government here that depends in any way on the Arab parties.”
His speech drew strong criticism from change bloc parties. Chairman of the Together Party and Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett confronted Netanyahu, demanding: “What about the Qatari advisers? They received salaries from Qatar. Why won’t you declare Qatar an enemy state?”
Bennett was referring to allegations against Netanyahu’s closest adviser, Yonatan Urich, who is suspected of receiving Qatari payments during the war in exchange for advising Qatar and running an influence campaign aimed at portraying it as an honest mediator in negotiations with Hamas for the release of hostages. At the same time, Urich was advising the prime minister and had access to highly sensitive security and diplomatic information.
Yashar Party chairman Gadi Eisenkot responded to Netanyahu’s remarks in a post on X: “I sat and listened to the outgoing prime minister’s delusional, divisive, hateful and disgraceful speech, in which he abused a state ceremony marking the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset. I am even more convinced now that he is unfit to remain in office another minute. We must act urgently to establish a national emergency government. His continued rule divides Israel and endangers its security.”
Eisenkot currently controls 67 Knesset seats, 19 of which belong to two Arab factions which may or may not actively participate in his future cabinet. Netanyahu’s bloc formally stands at 53, although two Haredi parties are reportedly debating whether or not to jump ship.