Netanyahu’s Knesset speech disrupted by heckling and opposition attacks

Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a heated address at the customary festive toast following the swearing-in ceremony of the 26th Knesset on Tuesday. He called for a national unity government to confront what he described as an existential Iranian threat.

Netanyahu accused predominantly Arab parties, Ra’am and the Joint List, of being supporters of terrorism who hate Israel. He asked whether lawmakers preferred those parties over Zionist parties representing an enormous Zionist public.

“I sat and listened to the outgoing prime minister’s delusional, divisive, hateful and disgraceful speech.”

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett interrupted several times, asking about Qatari advisers in Netanyahu’s office and calling for a state commission of inquiry. Bennett also raised the Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and insinuated that Netanyahu had prior knowledge of it.

Netanyahu’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, confronted Bennett during the speech, according to Israeli media. MK Gilad Kariv of The Democrats was removed from the hall after accusing Netanyahu of incitement.

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot described Netanyahu’s speech as shameful and divisive. He said he became even more convinced that Netanyahu is unfit to remain in office for even one more minute.

Eisenkot called for urgent action to establish a national emergency government. He argued that Netanyahu’s continued rule is dividing Israel and endangering its security.