Netanyahu: Opposition to Palestinian state, desire to avert ‘civil war’ can form base of broad government I lead

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argues that there is “broad agreement” on several issues that would help create the “broad national government” he hopes to form, pointing to what he says is a growing public consensus against Palestinian statehood and a shared desire to avoid “civil war” over divisive domestic issues such as Haredi enlistment.

“In my view, there is far more unity among the people than what you see in the Knesset. Much more. I believe there is broad agreement on many issues,” he says during his press conference, in response to a question on his call for a wider governing coalition.

He points to two areas where he says such agreement can be found: opposition to a two-state solution and the need to prevent internal violence.

He says “another principle of the broad national government that I intend to lead” is that “there is no room for two states.”

“Now, if you had asked me three years ago, before the [October 7, 2023, Hamas-led invasion and massacre,] the public was divided on this issue. In my opinion, most of the public was opposed, but a significant portion supported it. I think that has changed. That is a basis for agreement,” he says.

“There is another basis for agreement as well. People do not want to see a civil war. I am certain of that. There are those who are trying to inflame it and deepen the divisions within the public. I want to do everything possible to calm things down,” he says.

He refers to reported incidents of threats of violence against Haredi demonstrators during recent mass protests against ultra-Orthodox conscription: “Someone pulled out a gun, and I believe a woman was injured. We do not want to get there.” He doesn’t mention violence by Haredi protesters, including the attacks on the home of Deputy Supreme Court Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg and other top officials involved in enforcing the law against draft evaders.

“And I am convinced that there is room to reach understandings and a much broader consensus on many of these issues,” he says.