Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his push for a national unity government, warning that Iran is actively rebuilding its nuclear programme and that only a broad coalition can neutralise what he called an existential threat to Israel. The appeal, delivered in a prerecorded address on Saturday, was directed at Gadi Eisenkot — the former military chief now tasked with forming the country's next government.

Netanyahu's Warning on Iran

In his address, Netanyahu quoted the stakes in stark terms. 'The Iranian regime, which seeks Israel's destruction, is once again working to revive its nuclear program,' he said. 'We must remove this existential threat once and for all.'

He further cautioned that Israel could soon face intense international pressure to accept a nuclear-armed Iran. 'In the very near future, we're going to be confronted by international pressure to accept a nuclear-armed Iran and the preservation of this terror regime that seeks to annihilate us,' Netanyahu said, speaking after the first session of Israel's newly elected parliament.

The Political Context

Netanyahu's right-wing coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the October election, leaving him as caretaker prime minister. President Isaac Herzog has given Eisenkot 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. The Saturday address followed a security briefing Netanyahu held with Eisenkot on Thursday, and he urged his political rival to enter coalition negotiations without preconditions.

Netanyahu argued that a national unity government could guarantee Israel's security for years to come and help expand regional peace agreements — an apparent reference to the Abraham Accords framework.

Eisenkot Fires Back

The appeal drew an immediate and sharp rebuke from Eisenkot himself. The former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) chief accused Netanyahu of exploiting a significant state occasion for political ends, describing the speech as 'shameful' and questioning his suitability to continue in office. The exchange signals that any unity coalition talks will begin on deeply adversarial ground.

What's at Stake

The standoff comes at a critical moment for Israeli foreign policy. Iran's reported nuclear activities have drawn renewed scrutiny from Western governments, and Israel has historically reserved the right to unilateral military action to prevent a nuclear-armed Tehran. With a new government yet to be formed and Netanyahu's political future uncertain, the direction of Israel's Iran policy remains in flux.

All eyes now turn to whether Eisenkot can build a stable coalition within the allotted window — and whether security imperatives ultimately override the political tensions between the two rivals.