Israel piles pressure on Arab parties as Netanyahu seeks government

Jerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is exerting pressure on Arab-Israeli leaders over unproven claims of foreign funding, as the country edges closer to completing the ballot count from Tuesday's election. Neither Netanyahu nor the opposition bloc, headed by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, are expected to secure a majority.

The accusations, denied by the Arab parties, could cause further uncertainty in the electoral process at a time of heightened regional tensions. The vote saw increased participation by Arab-Israelis, descendants of Palestinians who remained after the creation of Israel in 1948, as they expressed outrage over officials like national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir suggesting harsh treatment for their community.

The Arab parties, together, hold enough votes to surpass the opposition bloc, but Eisenkot has refused to support them following Netanyahu's relentless attacks, warning his right-wing base that voting for the opposition would empower Arabs. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for an investigation into the allegations but cautioned against stigmatizing the entire Arab-Israeli community.

Raam, an Arab grouping, claimed to have no link to the accusations and welcomed an investigation. The Joint List accused Netanyahu and his allies of a campaign of incitement, fearing Arab citizens' political strength. The Shin Bet is investigating the claims, stating they are not intended to cast aspersions on the entire community.

Netanyahu has been under scrutiny for alleged ties to Qatar, a Gulf state he historically supported for stability reasons, but those relations ended following the Oct 7, 2023 attacks.