Netanyahu: Unity government is answer to MKs who walked out during 'Hatikvah'

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFNOVEMBER 14, 2026 19:39

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Yashar chairman MK Gadi Eisenkot to join him in forming a national unity government on Saturday, saying that the appropriate response to lawmakers who deliberately walked out during the singing of Israel's national anthem, "Hatikvah," was to establish a "government of hope."

"The necessary response to those who deliberately walked out during the singing of 'Hatikvah' is to establish the government of hope, the national unity government," Netanyahu said in a video shared on X/Twitter.

His remarks followed an incident at the swearing-in ceremony of the 26th Knesset on Tuesday, when Joint List lawmakers walked out during the singing of the national anthem. Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas and his fellow faction members remained standing during the anthem.

Netanyahu said his conversation with Eisenkot on Thursday had reinforced his belief that Israel needed a government bringing together all parties that recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.

The two leaders met for a security and diplomatic briefing on Thursday that lasted more than two hours and was attended by Netanyahu's military secretary.

"This meeting only strengthened my understanding of how essential it is at this time to establish a national unity government, a government that would include all the parties that support the existence of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people, and that would be able to meet the enormous and complex security challenges before us," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu urges Eisenkot to set aside political differences

Addressing Eisenkot directly, Netanyahu urged him to abandon efforts to establish an alternative coalition and instead enter negotiations without preconditions.

"Instead of trying to establish a shaky and dangerous government that will not be able to meet, even to a small extent, the enormous security and national challenges before us, let us do the obvious thing," he added.

"Let us enter a room, without preconditions, put aside all the disagreements and all the boycotts, and reach agreements for the security and future of Israel, including on the issue of military conscription, which can be resolved together with representatives of the haredi public."

The appeal comes amid efforts by Eisenkot, who has been tasked by President Isaac Herzog with forming the next government, to assemble a coalition following the October 27 elections.

The two leaders have previously clashed over Netanyahu's calls for national unity. Eisenkot's Yashar party canceled planned coalition negotiations with Likud following Netanyahu's speech at the Knesset swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, accusing the prime minister of divisive rhetoric.

Netanyahu warns Iran is renewing its nuclear program

Netanyahu also framed the establishment of a unity government as a response to what he described as a renewed existential threat from Iran.

"The Iranian regime, which seeks Israel's destruction, is once again working to renew its nuclear program. And let it be clear, this murderous regime, which did not hesitate to murder many thousands of its own people, will not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against us," he continued.

He warned that Tehran would use such weapons once it succeeded in resuming uranium enrichment and accelerating its nuclear weapons development.

Netanyahu said Israel must continue preventing Iran from achieving that goal, citing Operation Rising Lion and Operation Roaring Lion as examples of efforts to eliminate the threat.

"We must remove this existential threat hanging over our heads once and for all," he said.

"A narrow government, or a government that relies on supporters of terrorism, will not be able to meet this enormous challenge. But a national unity government will be able to achieve this in time, and thereby ensure Israel's security for many years."

Netanyahu had also warned about Iran's renewed nuclear ambitions during his Knesset address on Tuesday, arguing that a national unity government was necessary to confront the threat.

He also presented his proposal as a way to address divisions within Israeli society.

"A national unity government would answer the longing that I hear from many of you, citizens of Israel, the longing for national reconciliation, for reconciliation among us," Netanyahu concluded. "Because, like me, you understand that at this time we must act together."

Follow us on Google

---