Arab parties, which were on track for an unprecedented 19 seats between them, accused Benjamin Netanyahu of launching a 'campaign of incitement against Arab citizens'. (EPA Images pic)JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc on Thursday piled pressure on Arab-Israeli leaders over unproven accusations of foreign funding, in a push to neuter parties that could hold the key to forming a government after an inconclusive election.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role, called for an investigation into allegations but cautioned against stigmatising the entire Arab-Israeli community, who voted at unprecedented rates.
Israel was nearing the completion of ballot counting from Tuesday's election, the first since Hamas's Oct 7, 2023 attacks, with neither Netanyahu nor the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot appearing able to secure a majority.
