Netanyahu says all Israelis must ‘lower the flames’ of ‘baseless hatred’

In order to make peace with more neighbors and defeat its enemies, Israel must preserve its unity, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I call on everyone, on both members of the opposition and the coalition, and through you to the public… we know what a terrible catastrophe baseless hatred caused in our history.”

“This is the time to lower the flames,” he says, moments after accusing the opposition of having pushed to end the war in Gaza on Hamas’s terms.

“In a democracy, we can come to decisions of majority and minority. It is also possible to reach compromise. It also possible, and necessary, to debate disagreements,” he says. “But to do this with a focus on the matter at hand, certainly not with violence, certainly not with threats of murder of elected officials, certainly not with threats of murder against the prime minister and his family, and also the families of ministers.”

Netanyahu says the government will soon pass the 2026 budget, and “we will continue strengthening Israel’s economy.”

He says that Israel’s economic performance during the war is stunning the world.

“Inflation is going down, the shekel is strong, unemployment is at a nadir, and the stock exchange is at an all-time high,” he brags.