Netanyahu: Israelis don't want a government that depends on Ra'am and the Joint List

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday the public does not want a government that relies on Ra'am and the Joint List, which he called parties "that support terror and reject the existence of the Jewish state," and that his hand has been extended toward a broad national government "from day one."

In a statement posted in Hebrew on X, Netanyahu said the Jewish majority chose Likud and him to lead, and that he wants a broad government with his partners and "any party that wants it and does not support terror," adding, "I am open to dialogue on this," Israel Hayom and Kikar HaShabbat report. Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats against 48 for the change bloc, which cannot reach 61 without Ra'am (8) or the Joint List (11). Ynet reports he has not ruled out a rotation arrangement in closed-door talks.

Yair Lapid answered that there is "only one reason" Netanyahu is trying to undermine the results: "they lost." Gadi Eisenkot called the statement "a direct attack on Israeli democracy." Avigdor Liberman said he will not sit in a coalition with Netanyahu, the Arab parties or the Haredim, and called a second election "the worst option," Lahav Harkov reports.

President Isaac Herzog begins consultations with the parties on Wednesday, starting with the smallest factions, Kikar HaShabbat reports.