Protesters gather at Knesset as Israel swears in new parliament

Demonstrators gathered outside Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem to oppose the inclusion of Arab lawmakers in a future government and to demand fresh elections, Euronews and AOL.co.uk reported. Protesters shouted slogans, displayed banners, and clashed with police officers stationed at the building, according to Euronews. The Times of Israel reported that dozens of right-wing demonstrators warned of potential civil war if a government relies on Arab party support. [1][7][9][11]

Inside the parliament, political camps traded barbs during the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday over the possibility of forming a governing coalition with the support of Arab lists, France 24 reported. ABC News Australia reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech railing against Arab-Israeli members of the Knesset amid taunts and heckling. DW reported that opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot proposed a commission to investigate the events of October 7. [3][5][6][8]

President Isaac Herzog tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief, with creating a new government, UPI reported. According to UPI, Eisenkot's group of four political parties won 48 seats in the recent election, while the bloc led by Benjamin Netanyahu won 53 seats. Neither group holds a majority in the 120-seat legislature. As FTMQ News reported earlier, a total of 61 seats is required to form a majority, while Arab-led political lists secured 19 seats in the vote. [2][6][14]

Eisenkot has less than one month to negotiate and assemble a coalition government, according to UPI and DW. Political negotiations remain open while both major blocs attempt to secure enough parliamentary support to govern. [2][6]