Gadi Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu’s ‘racist’ campaign against Israeli arabs

New developments in coalition talks have sharpened the dispute over Arab parties’ role in Israel’s next government: Gadi Eisenkot says negotiations are progressing and has renewed his accusation that Benjamin Netanyahu is fuelling a “racist and violent” campaign against Arab citizens for political gain. Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming a government, says Arab citizens are an integral part of Israel’s story.

Netanyahu has sought to discredit Arab-led parties by linking their politicians to Hamas, claims they reject. The two Arab-led parties won 19 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, and their support could help Eisenkot secure a majority, though cooperation remains politically contentious. Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats and Eisenkot’s opposition bloc 48, leaving neither with a majority on its own.