Netanyahu renews call for unity government, says it is the only way to guarantee Israel's security

Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeated his appeal for a national unity government with his rival Gadi Eisenkot, arguing that only such a coalition can keep Israel secure.

In a video statement released on Saturday, Netanyahu said his meeting with Eisenkot on Thursday had 'only strengthened the conviction that it is essential to form a national unity government'. He claimed such a government could 'eliminate the Iranian threat once and for all', alleging that Tehran would 'not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against us'. 'Let's meet in one room, without preconditions,' he said.

Eisenkot, a former army chief, rejected the overture within minutes, describing it as a ploy. Netanyahu 'knows he lost the election', he said, adding: 'Netanyahu is calling for negotiations while they are already underway. These tricks don't work on me.'

Neither camp secured a majority in the October 27 election. Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc won 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, Eisenkot's four-party bloc took 48, and Arab-led parties captured a record 19.

President Isaac Herzog last week gave Eisenkot the mandate to form a government after 67 lawmakers, among them members of Arab-led parties, endorsed him, while 46 backed Netanyahu. Eisenkot now has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, and he has ruled out bringing Arab-led parties into his coalition.

Under Eisenkot's proposal for a minority 'national emergency government', his bloc's 48 lawmakers would vote in favour against the 46 Netanyahu supporters, while the 26 lawmakers from Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties could abstain, allowing the government to be approved without an absolute majority in the Knesset. Netanyahu has warned that such an arrangement would lead to Israel's 'collapse'.

Netanyahu's own preferred coalition would bring together Jewish parties from the centre and the right while excluding Arab parties. He and his allies have made unsubstantiated claims that Arab-led parties 'stole' the election, a campaign Eisenkot on Friday branded 'racist'.

Eisenkot has signalled he could cooperate with members of Netanyahu's Likud party and with Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism if their commitment to unity proves 'sincere', but he has insisted on a 'break with the extremists', singling out supporters of far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The Knesset is set to elect its speaker on Tuesday. The post is currently held by Netanyahu ally Amir Ohana, and the opposition has nominated Matan Kahana, a former military officer, to replace him.