Israeli protesters demand opposition ally with Arab parties to oust Netanyahu

Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and northern Israel on Saturday to urge the opposition to form a coalition government that includes Arab parties. Protesters in central Tel Aviv carried banners and chanted slogans calling for political partnership with the Arab minority to break political polarization, according to Ajel English. Al-Monitor reports that these demonstrations come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone on the offensive against leaders of the Arab minority group.

Counter-demonstrations were also held by right-wing, pro-Netanyahu protesters who rallied against cooperation with Arab parties and called for new elections, Haaretz reported.

Ajel English reports that Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, met with Netanyahu to discuss preventing the opposition from forming a government. Citing Yedioth Ahronoth, Ajel English states the two met to discuss preserving the right-wing government and preventing a left-wing government supported by those they described as supporters of terrorism.

Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir reportedly fear the Jewish opposition could form a government with Arab party backing because neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition's change bloc secured the 61-seat majority required.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Haaretz, Ajel English — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.