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Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his call for a “national unity government” after opposition bloc leader Gadi Eisenkot was tasked with forming a coalition following Israel’s Oct. 27 parliamentary election.
Speaking to the press for the first time after Monday’s opening session of parliament, where he targeted Palestinians with racist remarks, Netanyahu urged the Zionist opposition bloc to join him in forming a unity government.
Netanyahu argued that Israelis “know how to unite in times of trial” and said a government bringing together his camp and the Zionist opposition was possible.
He also claimed the election results reflected a public desire for a unity government.
“I cannot tell you everything I know here, but there are enough people who know what serious challenges lie ahead of us,” Netanyahu said without providing details about the challenges.
The Financial Times previously reported that Netanyahu has been calling U.S. President Donald Trump every day in an effort to persuade him to launch new attacks on Iran.
Netanyahu did not specify whether Iran was among the challenges he referred to in his remarks.
His renewed unity government proposal comes as Israel remains without a governing majority following the Oct. 27 election.
President Isaac Herzog assigned Eisenkot the task of forming a government after the opposition bloc leader secured the support of 67 lawmakers.
According to the election results, Netanyahu’s existing coalition won 53 seats, while the Zionist opposition bloc secured 48.
Neither side independently reached the 61 seats required to form a government in Israel’s 120-seat parliament.
The Joint List and Raam Party, which represent Palestinian citizens of Israel, won a combined 19 seats, marking a historic result.
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