The ethnic Arab parties of Israel have thrown their support behind Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot, cementing his case to form a government over that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A delegation led by Joint List party chairman Yousef Jabareen met with President Isaac Herzog on Thursday as the head of state prepares to select the next prime minister. The Arab leader urged Herzog to allow Eisenkot to attempt forming the next government, seeking to cement the opposition leader’s mandate against Netanyahu and his coalition.

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