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		</div><p>The Arab bloc in Israel’s parliament abandoned its usual hands-off stance on Sunday and endorsed former military chief Benny Gantz for prime minister.</p>
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<p>The move potentially gives him the edge over hardline incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu.</p>
<p>The historic move marked the first time in nearly three decades that the Arab parties backed a candidate for prime minster, reflecting their contempt for Mr Netanyahu, who was accused of fomenting hatred of the Arabs during his re-election campaign.</p>
<p>“Benny Gantz is not our cup of tea,” said Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi.</p>
<p>“But we promised our constituents that we would do everything to topple Netanyahu, and the default here is recommending Benny Gantz.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_140494" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140494" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="size-full wp-image-140494" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/B94B8C69-052F-4586-8C8B-8280782B2D19.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="400" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140494" class="wp-caption-text">Israeli President Reuven Rivlin speaks during a consultation meeting with members of the Likud party</figcaption></figure>
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<p>It will be up to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to decide which candidate should be given the chance to form a coalition government and serve as prime minister – a task made difficult this time by last week’s deadlocked parliamentary elections.</p>
<p>Neither Mr Gantz, the leader of the centrist Blue and White party, nor Mr Netanyahu, head of the conservative Likud movement, has a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, or 61 members.</p>
<p>But with the backing of the Arab parties, Mr Gantz gained a slight advantage. He could have as many as 57 backers, compared with Mr Netanyahu’s 55.</p>
<p>Maverick politician Avigdor Lieberman, head of the mid-size Yisrael Beitenu party, controls the final eight seats, making him the key powerbroker.</p>
<p>But he announced Sunday that he is not endorsing either candidate.</p>
<figure id="attachment_140495" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140495" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="size-full wp-image-140495" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/66365C1C-DDB7-4E92-A541-B3568197C1F0.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="400" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140495" class="wp-caption-text">Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz</figcaption></figure>
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<p>The endorsement by the Joint List, a bloc of four small Arab parties that controls 13 seats, marked a turning point in Israeli politics.</p>
<p>Arab parties have traditionally refrained from endorsing a candidate for prime minister, and they have never sat in a coalition government, not wanting to be seen as legitimising Israeli policies.</p>
<p>Although many Israeli Arabs remain angry at Mr Gantz for leading the military’s devastating war against Gaza militants in 2014, their fury toward Mr Netanyahu runs much deeper.</p>
<p>Mr Netanyahu’s campaign repeatedly accused the Arabs of trying to “steal” the election, drawing accusations of racism and incitement.</p>
<p>There is also deep-seated anger over a law passed by Mr Netanyahu’s government in 2018 that declared Israel to be the nation-state of the Jewish people. Arabs believe the law codifies discrimination.</p>
<figure id="attachment_140497" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140497" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="size-full wp-image-140497" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2A106505-959E-423F-A7FD-9A20829571E7.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="400" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140497" class="wp-caption-text">Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz</figcaption></figure>
<p>Though the Arab parties are still expected to stay out of Mr Gantz’s future government, their endorsement reflects a growing desire of Israel’s large Arab minority to take a more active role in shaping the country.</p>
<p>Writing in The New York Times, Ayman Odeh, the leader of the Joint List, argued that his move should end Mr Netanyahu’s political career and provide a watershed moment for Israel’s Arab minority.</p>
<p>“If the centre-left parties of Israel believe that Arab Palestinian citizens have a place in this country, they must accept that we have a place in its politics,” he wrote.</p>
<p>“There is no shared future without the full and equal participation of Arab Palestinian citizens.”</p>
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<p>Mr Netanyahu reacted by saying: “As we warned, the Arab parties that oppose Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and glorify terrorists recommended Gantz for prime minister.”</p>
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