Netanyahu proposes centrist government in new overture

 

Georgina Harris/TT

Published 20:57

 

Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to party members at the Likud election night event on October 28 of this year. Photo: David Goldman/AP/TT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he and his party, Likud, are prepared to lead a new "broad-based government."

He states that he is "open to discussions" on the matter.

On Monday evening, Netanyahu put forward the proposal to form a "broad-based government," while simultaneously ruling out any cooperation with the country’s two Arab parties:

"The Israeli public does not want a government that depends on Ra'am and the Joint List," he wrote in a post on X, accusing the two parties of supporting terrorism and opposing the principle of a Jewish state.

He writes that Likud—under Netanyahu’s leadership as Prime Minister—is prepared to form a government with any party that "does not support terrorism."

The statement comes shortly after news that the four parties in the opposition bloc are expected to meet on Tuesday for the first time since last week’s election.

Neither of the two main blocs in the national election secured enough votes to command an outright majority in parliament.

The opposition bloc campaigned on the goal of ousting Netanyahu and launching a state inquiry into the handling of the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023.

Israel’s two Arab parties saw significant gains, winning 19 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, the country’s parliament.