Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after being given the mandate to try to form the next government the morning of April 6, told the weekly Likud faction meeting at the Knesset in the evening that he will make every effort to end Israel's unceasing cycle of early elections.

Netanyahu said he would work for the establishment of a strong and stable government, saying, “This won’t be a government of paralysis, but rather a government of action. To do this, the government must be united, both in policy and action. And to create it, we must first end the personal boycotts.” Addressing Israeli Arabs, he said, “I see myself as the prime minister of everyone.”

Netanyahu also said he will work to get the country more coronavirus vaccines and pledged to continue efforts for more peace and normalization treaties with Arab countries. “It’s real. … It’s not an election slogan,” he said.

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid reacted bitterly to President Reuven Rivlin tapping Netanyahu for the job of forming the government. Lapid tweeted, “The president fulfilled his duty and had no choice, but handing Netanyahu the mandate (to compose the next government) is a disgrace that tarnishes Israel and casts shame on our status as a law-abiding state.”