Israel’s Joint List pledged to seek caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s removal after he accused the bloc and the United Arab List of wanting Israel destroyed in a Knesset speech.
Anadolu Agency reported that the bloc called Netanyahu’s remarks “incitement, racism and hatred” and described him as being in “total hysteria.” It said it would respond quickly to voters who want the prime minister, the legislature’s speaker and the government removed.
The pledge follows the Joint List’s earlier agreement with the Democrats to work to end Netanyahu’s government. The Knesset’s final election count gave the Joint List 11 seats and the United Arab List (Ra’am) eight, for 19 combined in the 120-seat legislature. Anadolu reported that Eisenkot’s four-party bloc holds 48 seats and Netanyahu’s camp has 53.
President Isaac Herzog gave Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot 28 days on Sunday to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension, Anadolu reported. A majority requires 61 seats, leaving Eisenkot’s bloc 13 short before additional support. Anadolu also reported divisions among opposition parties over cooperation with Arab parties and the makeup of the next government.
