Netanyahu accused of giving 'hate-filled speech' in Israeli parliament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was accused of giving a "hate-filled speech" against the Palestinian-led parties in the newly elected parliament on Tuesday. On Tuesday, two weeks after Netanyahu's far-right bloc lost the elections following an historic voter turnout from Palestinian citizens of Israel, the parliament was sworn in in Jerusalem, with an unprecedented 19 members from the Palestinian-led Joint List alliance and Ra'am party. Marking the ceremonial day, Netanyahu initially told the new Knesset members that Israel was facing "great threats" from Iran's nuclear programme, stating that "the only way to remove this existential threat permanently is by toppling the regime of the ayatollahs". However, after boasting about Israeli military achievements in the occupied Palestinian territories, Syria, Lebanon and Iran, Netanyahu began lashing out at the Palestinian-led parties. The Israeli premier said that Israel must "set aside every other consideration and form a national unity government" with his main challenger Gadi Eisenkot. Read more: Netanyahu draws calls of 'hate speech' in the newly elected Israeli parliament