Eisenkot Accuses Netanyahu of Fueling "Racist" Campaign Against Arab Citizens

Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who is trying to form Israel's next government, has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of fueling a "racist" campaign against the country's Arab citizens, according to The New York Times.

The accusation came days after Netanyahu gave a speech at the opening session of the Knesset, Israel's parliament. In that speech, Netanyahu referred to Arab lawmakers as "terror supporters" and "haters of Israel."

Eisenkot said Arab citizens have been subjected, since the start of the election campaign, to a racist and aggressive campaign of delegitimization, a term for efforts to cast a group as having no legitimate place in public life. He said the campaign had been fueled by the outgoing prime minister and those around him for political purposes.

Arab citizens make up about 20 percent of Israel's overall population. Eisenkot said they are an integral part of the Israeli story and that it was wrong to malign an entire community.

Israel's Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the state, says all citizens have equal social and political rights irrespective of religion, race or sex.