Israelis urge opposition to ally with Arab parties to oust Netanyahu
“Hundreds of Israelis took to the streets on Saturday to urge the opposition to ally with Arab parties to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has gone on the offensive against the minority grou…”
Arab-majority parties made major gains in Tuesday’s election, fueled by anger over rhetoric targeting the community from Netanyahu’s hard-right government, but opposition chief Gadi Eisenkot has not decided whether to seek a coalition with them.
Joining a rally in Tel Aviv, Ayelet Raz said that the Arab community, which accounts for around 20 percent of Israel’s population, had a right to political participation. “It’s the last chance for real change,” the 60-year-old psychologist said, warning that Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was a “great manipulator.”“We need to give peace a chance,” she said.
“Otherwise we’ll have this bloodshed forever.” Inconclusive election results Tuesday’s election was inconclusive, with neither bloc reaching a majority in Israel’s 120-seat parliament. Jewish-majority parties opposed to Netanyahu, known by his nickname Bibi, won 48 seats, while two Arab-majority parties, Raam and the Joint List, secured a combined 19 seats.
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An alliance between the two camps would potentially give the anti-Netanyahu bloc a comfortable majority of 67 seats, but the idea is opposed by some parties in the opposition bloc. “Arabs and Jews will only win together” and “There is a majority for change” read some of the signs held by around 500 protesters in Tel Aviv.
“67 — United we stand, divided we get Bibi” and “Why not, really — unless we are racist?” read some of the placards at the 100-strong rally in Jerusalem.
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