Netanyahu Warns of Radical Islam Threat in First Post-Election Video Message

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that only a broad national government led by his Likud party can address the threat he claims radical Islam poses to Israel, in his first video message after the elections. Netanyahu stated that radical Islam threatens Israel from abroad through Iran and its allies, and from within via Islamist parties he says support terrorism. He argued a government dependent on Arab parties, which won a record 19 seats, would be unable to face this challenge. The election gave Likud 27 seats, but its coalition holds only 53, short of the 61 needed for a majority. The opposition bloc has 48 seats, with Arab parties holding 19, leaving no clear governing majority.