Ra’am leader accuses Netanyahu of ‘lying and inciting’ against Arab party

Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “lying and inciting” against his party, accusing him of using allegations of election fraud to mobilise right-wing voters.

In a video message filmed in Sakhnin on Tuesday, Abbas urged Palestinian citizens of Israel to turn out and vote for the United Arab List, also known as Ra’am.

His remarks came after Netanyahu claimed that three senior Ra’am officials had been arrested with envelopes of cash in southern Israel, accusing them of attempting to “steal the election”.

Israeli election officials said they found no evidence of wider electoral interference.

Ra’am, which represents Palestinian citizens of Israel, could play a key role in determining the next government if neither major political bloc secures a parliamentary majority.