Israel PM Netanyahu's rivals seek to bar racist party candidates from polls

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to boost an extreme-right party many view as racist in April elections could be blocked if his opponents succeed in a bid to disqualify its candidates.

A range of politicians seeking to oust Netanyahu have supported a petition seeking to have candidates for the party, Jewish Power, barred from participating in the election on the grounds of incitement to racism.

Netanyahu last week brokered a deal that saw Jewish Power join with two other far-right parties to form one list to boost its chances of making it into parliament after April 9 elections. The prime minister, with an eye on his next coalition government should he win, says the move was necessary to ensure enough seats in the next parliament for right-wing parties.

But Netanyahu has received harsh criticism both at home and abroad over the move, with many accusing him of

easing the path for anti-Arab "racists" to make it into

parliament.