Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday condemned what he called racist remarks targeting the country’s Arab minority amid Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s allegations of fraud against Arab-majority parties, and called on political leaders to reach a compromise to form the next government.
His remarks came amid heightened political tensions following Israel’s October 27 election, which left neither of the two main political blocs with a majority in the 120-member parliament. I condemn the coarseness and racist expressions that we have heard recently,” Herzog said while receiving the official election results, Reuters reported. He began consultations with party leaders to decide whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or his rival Gadi Eisenkot should get the first opportunity to form a government, AFP reported.
“I hold Arab society in Israel in great respect. I value its contribution to the country in every area of life, and its desire to integrate. This is something to be welcomed. With no clear winner emerging from the election, Herzog urged political leaders to find common ground and avoid another round of voting. The election campaign saw Netanyahu accuse Arab-majority lists of electoral irregularities, pointing to the arrests of several people found with envelopes of cash on polling day. Authorities described these as localised incidents. He also accused Arab party leaders of accepting money from Qatar, an allegation that has also been levelled against the prime minister’s aides.
Ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said his party did not accept the results and called for the arrest of Arab-Israeli party leaders.
