Netanyahu heckled as Knesset opens, coalition talks stall

Benjamin Netanyahu faced audible protests and walkouts during Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony for Israel’s new parliament. The disruptions occurred as the prime minister urged lawmakers to form a broad national unity government. Many Palestinian representatives left the chamber in response to his remarks. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also heckled Netanyahu from the floor. Itamar Ben-Gvir, a hard-right ally, participated in the session’s exchanges. Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife, was present during the proceedings.

Netanyahu argued that threats from Iran and the rising number of elected lawmakers representing Palestinian citizens of Israel required a wide coalition. He accused those specific members of seeking the country’s destruction, though he did not provide evidence for the claim. His proposal focused on Jewish Israeli parties and excluded reliance on parties representing Palestinian citizens. Analysts view a minority government as the most probable result of the current negotiations.

Gadi Eisenkot, who holds the first opportunity to build a governing coalition, cancelled planned talks with Netanyahu following the session. Eisenkot described his rival as “unfit for office.” If Eisenkot succeeds in forming a coalition, Netanyahu would be left outside of government. This scenario would allow his corruption trial to proceed without the procedural protections afforded to a sitting prime minister. An inquiry into the failures of the previous administration before the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, would also likely move forward.

Political scientists observe that Israeli voting behavior has shifted toward an American-style model. Roi Zur, a specialist in voting behavior at the University of Essex, stated that Netanyahu turned Likud into a populist party. Zur noted that voters increasingly identify with leaders like Netanyahu, Bennett, or Eisenkot rather than traditional party labels such as Likud or Labor. This personalization of politics contrasts with the electoral system, where citizens largely vote for party slates.

Dahlia Schneidlin, an American-Israeli pollster, said campaigning has centered on individuals over recent decades. She emphasized that personal appeal does not eliminate the necessity of coalition building. Schneidlin argued that Eisenkot must demonstrate his ability to negotiate and bargain with other parties to secure a stable government. Winning support through personality alone is insufficient in a fragmented parliamentary system.

Personal rivalries often overshadow shared policy positions in Israeli politics. Netanyahu and opposition figure Avigdor Lieberman maintain closely aligned right-wing stances despite their well-known mutual hostility. Yossi Mekelberg, a senior fellow at Chatham House, said the concentration of authority within parties allows leaders to operate with few constraints. He pointed to Netanyahu’s accusations against 19 elected Knesset members as evidence of this culture. Mekelberg argued that the focus on personalities is worsening political divisions.