Segal: Netanyahu speech "a great pity"

Amit was also critical of the address. "Regarding Benjamin Netanyahu's speech, you can argue about the content. You can agree with him and you can think that the Arab parties are the greatest danger," Segal began his analysis. "But from a cold political perspective, you can agree that this speech was a serious political mistake by Benjamin Netanyahu."

In his speech last night, Netanyahu said: "There are those in this house who for some reason think there is a big difference between the supposedly 'moderate' Ra'am and the 'extremist' Joint List. The only difference is that they are divided on the question of which state will arise here on the ruins of the Jewish state. Whether an Islamic state in the style of the Muslim Brotherhood like Hamas in Gaza, or a Palestinian nationalist state in the style of Fatah. That's the whole difference. But on one thing they agree: Israel, as a Jewish state, has no right to exist!"

Addressing the security situation, he said: "In the face of these threats, we must do one thing in this house: put aside every other consideration and establish a national unity government. Only it will be able to deal with such enormous challenges.

And to those who are thinking of establishing a government that includes within it terror supporters who hate Israel, or that will be dependent on them: I ask you, are you willing to be dependent on those whose goal is the destruction of the Jewish state? In their hands you entrust the fate of our state? Them you prefer over Zionist parties that represent a huge Zionist public?"

At the end of his speech, Netanyahu turned to the chareidi parties: "I say to our chareidi brothers, even a narrow government must not be established. Because I know what is at stake, not only the enormous security challenge, but also the great internal challenge of preserving the Jewish identity of the State of Israel."

"You represent a large public that is concerned for the Jewish identity of the state, a public that loves Israel and settles in the heart of the Land of Israel," he said. "We, the faith bloc, have preserved and will continue to preserve the holy places of Israel, and you know very well who your partners in a narrow government will be and what their attitude is toward the holy places of Israel."

"Our joint mission is to complete the regulation of the status of Torah scholars and the draft law with broad agreement, in cooperation with your spiritual leadership," he concluded. "I don't need to tell you, you know very well, they will promise you mountains and hills. But one minute after, G-d forbid, a government is established under the leadership of the left, all those promises will evaporate."