Netanyahu says unity government needed to confront Iran nuclear threat

• He said a meeting with Eisenkot on Thursday reinforced his belief that a broad coalition was needed to address ‘Israel’s’ security challenges.
• Netanyahu warned that Iran was seeking to revive its nuclear programme, claiming Tehran could eventually use nuclear weapons against ‘Israel.’
• He called for continued efforts to prevent Iran from restoring its uranium enrichment and nuclear weapons development capabilities.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Saturday for the formation of a national unity government, urging opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot to join talks without preconditions and set aside political disagreements, citing what he described as growing security threats from Iran.

In a statement, Netanyahu said a meeting with Eisenkot on Thursday had reinforced his belief that a broad coalition was necessary to address the country's security challenges and ensure its future.

Netanyahu said the proposed government should include all parties that support the existence of ‘Israel’ as “the state of the Jewish people,” arguing that a narrow coalition or one dependent on parties he accused of supporting terrorism would be unable to confront the challenges ahead.

He also framed the proposal around the Iranian nuclear programme, warning that Tehran was seeking to revive its enrichment activities and accelerate the development of nuclear weapons. Netanyahu claimed Iran would use nuclear weapons against ‘Israel’ if it succeeded in rebuilding its programme, describing the threat as existential.

He called for continued action to prevent Iran from restoring its nuclear capabilities, pointing to the ‘Israeli’ military operations he referred to as “Am Kelavi” and “Shaagat Ha’ari,” which he said had averted an immediate threat of annihilation.

The appeal comes amid a political standoff following the Oct. 27 parliamentary elections, which left neither Netanyahu's Likud-led bloc nor the opposition with the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. President Isaac Herzog subsequently tasked Eisenkot, a former military chief and leader of the Yashar party, with forming the next government. He has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension.

Netanyahu's proposal would bring together political rivals, including parties that have previously opposed his leadership. He also urged Eisenkot to address the contentious issue of military conscription, saying an agreement could be reached with representatives of the ultra-Orthodox Haredi community.

Concluding his appeal, Netanyahu called on Eisenkot to abandon political boycotts and enter negotiations without preconditions, saying a unity government would respond to public demands for national reconciliation.

He also referred to lawmakers who deliberately walked out during the singing of “Hatikvah,” ‘Israel's’ national anthem, arguing that the appropriate response was to establish what he called a “government of hope.”

Read more: IAEA calls on Iran to ‘urgently’ allow inspections at its nuclear facilities