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Gantz’ silence on incitement could cost him premiership

As long as the center-left does not start integrating Arabs on their party lists for the Knesset, the political balance will not change and Israel would still be trapped by political deadlock.
Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White party, delivers a statement during the party faction meeting at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem November 25, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC2EID9DIU6B
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been waging a campaign against the formation of a minority government headed by the Blue and White party with support of the Arab Joint List from outside the coalition, calling such a government “an existential threat to the State of Israel” on Nov. 17. And as one could expect, this campaign had an effect on the field.  On Nov. 30, Joint List Knesset member Ahmad Tibi arrived at a cultural event in Ramat Hasharon, and discovered that right-wing activists were “waiting for him” at the entrance. They tried to prevent his entry, yelled “murderer, terrorist, glorifier of martyrs” at him, and even tried to physically hurt him.

The attack on an Arab Knesset member has not changed anything in the Israeli political agenda and has not led to a wave of condemnations by Israeli politicians, except for perhaps a remark by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz at the beginning of the party meeting Dec. 2, denouncing the violent discourse and acts against groups in the Israeli society.

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