The first session of the new Israeli Parliament, the 26th Knesset, which was sworn in today (Nov. 9), was chaotic, as tensions, heated exchanges, interruptions, and shouting among politicians. This underscores the difficulties that opposition leader Gadi Eizenkot is expected to face in forming a government.
Meanwhile, President Isaac Herzog, in opening the inaugural session, called on various political forces to make compromises in order to form a new government in Israel, the speeches by party leaders quickly revealed deep political divisions.
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Shortly before the opening session of the Israeli Knesset, Eisenkot pledged to form Israel’s new government “as soon as possible” to succeed the outgoing government of his political rival, Benjamin Netanyahu.
In his speech following the swearing-in of the new Knesset, Netanyahu renewed his call for the formation of a government of national unity, while once again launching a scathing attack against the Arab parties Ra’am and the United List, accusing them of seeking Israel’s destruction, while warning his political opponents not to rely on their support to form a government.
בושה! אסור להקים ממשלה מסוכנת עם תומכי הטרור של רע״מ והמשותפת! https://t.co/WeFe49Dsfi
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 10, 2026
At the same time, he stated that “Iran is working to revive the nuclear threat. The only way to permanently eliminate this existential threat is to overthrow the Ayatollah regime.” “In the face of these threats, we must do one thing in this House: set aside all other considerations and form a government of national unity,” he emphasized.
He then turned on his opponents, criticizing them for considering the formation of a governing coalition with the support of Arab members of parliament, whom he characterized as “supporters of terrorism who hate Israel.”
Eisenkot condemned the outgoing prime minister’s speech as “shameful.” “I listened carefully to the delusional, divisive, hate-filled, and shameful speech by the outgoing prime minister, who abused an official event—the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset—for political purposes,”, Eisenkot said, according to a statement from his party, adding that “Netanyahu’s continued hold on power is dividing Israel and jeopardizing its security.”
The chairman of the Bayit Yisrael party, Naftali Bennett, and other opposition lawmakers repeatedly interrupted Netanyahu during his speech, demanding answers regarding the alleged ties between his associates and Qatar, as well as his refusal to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023, attack, led by Hamas.
As Netanyahu accused the Arab parties of seeking Israel’s destruction, Bennett interrupted him, shouting: “What about the investigation into the events of October 7? What about your advisors from Qatar? Why don’t you declare Qatar a hostile state?”
WATCH: “What about an investigation into Oct. 7?” Bennett interrupts Netanyahu’s Knesset toast as PM calls for probe into foreign money’s influence on elections. https://t.co/xb87rbxNPd
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) November 10, 2026
Likud parliamentary group leader Ofir Katz responded sharply to Bennett: “Look into that with your Tibi and Abbas,” referring to United List Knesset member Ahmed Tibi and Ra’am party chairman Mansour Abbas.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Democrats party, Yair Golan, and members of his party walked out of the plenary hall in protest, while Knesset member Gilad Kariv shouted: “How much money did you receive from Qatar?”
During the swearing-in ceremony, the far-right outgoing minister Itamar Ben-Gvir launched a tirade of insults against the lawmaker and head of the main Arab faction, theUnified List, Youssef Jabarin, accusing him of supporting Hamas.
“To whom do you pledge allegiance—to Hamas?” Ben-Gvir asked Jabarin, the leader of the United List, immediately after his swearing-in ceremony.
Source: Proto Thema
