ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu played the racism card yesterday in a last-ditch bid to hold on to political power, claiming that high Arab voter turnout was endangering his chances.

He reiterated his earlier pledge to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, backtracking from six years of his own declared policy and putting him at odds with the US and other Western allies.

Mr Netanyahu went further at midday, declaring on his Facebook page: “Arab voters are going to the polls in droves. Left-wing organisations are bringing them in buses.”

He urged supporters to vote for him to “narrow the gap” between his Likud party and the Zionist Union, telling them: “With your help and with the help of God, we will build a nationalist government that will protect the state of Israel.”

Mr Netanyahu has swung further to the right in the final stages of the campaign, complaining of an international conspiracy funded by wealthy foreigners to oust him, and warning of a “left-wing government supported by the Arabs.”

Palestinian presidential aide Saleh Rafat commented: “The world needs to listen carefully to this statement and stop calling for talks with Netanyahu over the two-state solution if he is elected.”

Arab voters have been energised by a new unified bloc of Arab parties, including the binational Communist Party-led Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash), which is poised to make big electoral gains.

Mr Netanyahu’s main challenger, Labour Party leader Isaac Herzog, has promised to revive peace efforts with the Palestinians, repair ties with the US and reduce the growing gaps between rich and poor.

He heads the Zionist Union formed with the Kadima party, which is led by former Netanyahu minister Tzipi Livni.

“Whoever wants to follow (Netanyahu’s) path of despair and disappointment will vote for him,” Mr Herzog said after casting his vote.

“But whoever wants change, hope and really a better future for Israel will vote for the Zionist Union, led by me.”

Mr Netanyahu ruled out a coalition with Mr Herzog, saying that he would seek an alliance with Naftali Bennett’s far-right Jewish Home party, which also opposes Palestinian independence.

by Our Foreign Desk