Israel's election commission rejects Netanyahu's voter fraud claims as President Herzog accepts the results and opens coalition talks
Israel's election commission acting director Dean Livne said every complaint was examined individually and thoroughly, but none supported claims the results were invalid.Change Bloc's 48 certified seats left it short of the 61 needed for a majority, while Arab parties secured a historic 19 seats.
Israel's election watchdog voted 15-14 to certify the 27 October results, finding no evidence of irregularities, and President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified tally at a formal ceremony on Wednesday, launching two days of coalition consultations. Netanyahu's disputed fraud claims were rejected outright, with the attorney general also blocking Shin Bet's attempt to interrogate politicians from Palestinian-led parties, citing a complete absence of evidence.
Netanyahu's challenger Gadi Eisenkot is expected to receive the first mandate to form a government, with Arab-Israeli parties' 19 seats seen as his path to a majority.
Eisenkot warned Netanyahu had launched a 'pogrom against democracy' by trying to discredit valid votes and weaponise security forces.
The certification squeaked through 15-14, prompting the committee chair to warn that the level of internal opposition 'sets a dangerous precedent.'
