Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he plans to form a broad coalition to govern after the upcoming election. In a speech on Saturday, he distanced himself from both the far right and the left.
“I intend to establish a comprehensive national government, not a right-wing government, not a left-wing government that depends on Arab parties, but a comprehensive national government,” Netanyahu said in a televised speech.
“Because only in this way, I think, can we reach internal agreements … It means, first of all: enough with the boycott. I’m not boycotting anyone. I say, everyone will be able to join in; they just need to agree to our basic principles, that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and that we respect individual rights,” he said.
Netanyahu said the government he wants to lead will help fulfill Israel’s broader regional ambitions.
He said, “Having removed the Iranian existential threat, the broader national government can make peace within itself, deal with the remnants of the Iranian axis and reap the fruits of our victory in political settlements, as we are doing with Lebanon – and there are more on the way.”
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister for several terms, has said he plans to run in national elections before Oct. 27. A recent poll showed that a majority of Israelis want him to step down.
Netanyahu currently leads Israel’s far-right government. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir described Netanyahu’s comments as “very disturbing”.
“The government that Prime Minister Netanyahu should form should be a completely right-wing government,” he said.