Israel's final count confirms Netanyahu's bloc has lost its majority, leaving Arab parties with a record 19 seats
Arab voter turnout surged to roughly 80%, up from 53.2% in 2022, as Benjamin Netanyahu accused Arab parties of "stealing" the election amid disputed claims of foreign interference.
Netanyahu's Likud party has declared Israel's election "stolen," claiming Arab-led parties were aided by foreign funding in what it called an attempt to "Islamise" Israel — despite the election committee's head saying he could not verify the allegations and asking Shin Bet to investigate. Neither major bloc secured the 61 seats needed for a majority, with Netanyahu's side on 53 and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's alliance on 48.
Washington is reported to be frustrated by the deadlock, adding external pressure as weeks of coalition talks loom.
Eisenkot met former PM Naftali Bennett on Thursday to discuss forming a government quickly, but key opposition figure Avigdor Liberman has ruled out any coalition including Arab parties.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid insists talks are progressing in private, writing: 'If you want to know if something's happening behind the silence, the answer is yes.'
