Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a new video message on Tuesday in which he warned that Blue and White leader Benny Gantz would seek to deny him a fifth term by striking a de facto alliance with the Arab parties in the Knesset.
In the video, he revealed that senior left-wing lawmakers were already hatching the plan, and even aired alleged audio of their conversations.
"They trying to forge a deal that would bring the Arab parties on board and create a left-wing government. You want to prevent that from happening? Then vote Likud," Netanyahu said.
תקשיבו לדיל של לפיד וגנץ עם המפלגות הערביות. העסקה נחשפת! חייבים להצביע רק לליכוד, כי רק ככה נעצור הקמת ממשלת שמאל בתמיכת המפלגות הערביות pic.twitter.com/cxPHeVB52i
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) April 9, 2019
Arab parties have long refused to officially join a coalition, but have occasionally offered support in key Knesset votes and most importantly in confidence votes, which are crucial for swearing in governments. In the 1990s such tacit support allowed the Left to hold on to power through a minority government.
Blue and White dismissed Netanyahu's allegations, accusing Likud grassroots activists of trying to sabotage the election by throwing out ballots. "This is an attempt to undermine the democratic process because they are afraid we are about to win," Blue and White Co-chairman Yair Lapid said Tuesday.
