The Newshound

Netanyahu claims Arab parties have 'stolen' Israel's election as his bloc holds its lead with the count still under way

Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Likud party has filed witness statements and physical evidence with Israeli police alleging cash-filled envelopes containing Ra'am ballots were distributed to manipulate the vote.
Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Likud party has filed witness statements and physical evidence with Israeli police alleging cash-filled envelopes containing Ra'am ballots were distributed to manipulate the vote.
Arab parties surged to a projected record 18 or 19 seats, complicating any Gadi Eisenkot-led coalition that has been reluctant to depend on their backing.
Arab parties surged to a projected record 18 or 19 seats, complicating any Gadi Eisenkot-led coalition that has been reluctant to depend on their backing.

Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has submitted hundreds of witness statements and items of evidence to Israeli police, the Shin Bet security agency and the Central Elections Committee, accusing Arab parties of bribery, voter intimidation, forgery and deploying prohibited software to drive turnout. With 85.6% of ballots counted, Netanyahu's right-wing bloc holds 53 seats against rival Gadi Eisenkot's 48, leaving neither with the 61 seats needed to govern. Netanyahu will remain as caretaker prime minister while coalition talks — which could take weeks — begin under President Isaac Herzog.

Arab-led parties secured a historic 19 seats, a tally that makes them kingmakers capable of giving Eisenkot a majority should he abandon his campaign pledge to exclude them.

Netanyahu, 77, insisted Likud is the largest party and demanded police act 'with an iron fist'; the claims he has made remain unverified by independent sources.

Israeli stocks fell and the shekel weakened on the results, as analysts warned the deadlock could easily drag into months of political gridlock or a fresh election.

MoreNY PostNetanyahu bloc maintains edge over opposition in Israeli elections as vote count continuesPoliticoNetanyahu claims stolen election amid failure to secure victoryThe HillNetanyahu’s party alleges ‘serious criminal offenses’ in Israeli electionThe HillNetanyahu’s fortunes improve but without clear path to outright victoryThe IndependentNetanyahu faces a near impossible task to survive – this is whyThe TelegraphNetanyahu: Arab parties have ‘stolen’ electionLBCNetanyahu accuses Arab parties of ‘stealing’ election as Israel's PM set to remain as caretakerReutersIsraeli stocks fall, shekel weakens as Netanyahu bloc beats election forecastsReutersIsrael's election gives survivor Netanyahu a path to keep powerWashington TimesNetanyahu accuses Arab parties of stealing Israeli electionBBC NewsNetanyahu's bloc leading Israel election but short of majority, partial results showNYT WorldNetanyahu Didn’t Win Israel’s Election. But He’s Far From Out.
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →