Israeli opposition faces an agonising choice over Arab parties' record 19 seats as Netanyahu's bloc falls eight short of a majority
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.
Likud topped the poll with 27 seats, yet Netanyahu's bloc reached only 53, leaving him eight short of the 61 required for a majority — while Arab parties, having won a record 19 seats on a 77.9% turnout, now find themselves holding decisive influence. President Isaac Herzog is expected to ask Eisenkot to attempt to form a government once results are certified next Wednesday, although several opposition leaders have declared they will not work alongside Arab parties.
Likud has claimed the election was "stolen" through foreign-funded vote-buying, while Shin Bet is separately investigating alleged interference by Qatar and Turkey, both of which deny any involvement.
Seven men, among them three school principals, have been detained on bribery allegations linked to the Arab Ra'am party, following raids in which envelopes of cash were discovered.
Avigdor Liberman has said he will not serve under Netanyahu or in any coalition that includes Arab parties, leaving the opposition's numbers almost impossible to make work without them.
