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Israel's Netanyahu accuses Arab parties of 'stealing' the election while his bloc falls short of a Knesset majority

Israel's Netanyahu accuses Arab parties of 'stealing' the election while his bloc falls short of a Knesset majority
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 formally filed allegations of electoral fraud against Arab political parties, submitting a large body of witness testimony and physical evidence to police, the Shin Bet and the Central Elections Committee. The complaint accuses Arab parties of resorting to bribery, voter intimidation, forgeries and prohibited software to manipulate Tuesday's vote. With nearly 86% of ballots counted, Netanyahu's right-wing bloc holds 53 Knesset seats against Eisenkot's 48, leaving neither side at the 61 required to form a government. Arab-led parties secured a record 19 seats, positioning them as kingmakers whose backing could lift Eisenkot to the premiership — an outcome Netanyahu condemned as a "dangerous government."

Likud's specific allegations — including cash-stuffed envelopes bearing Ra'am ballots and multiple voting under false identities — have not been independently verified.

Arab-led parties nearly doubled their previous tally and could deliver Eisenkot a majority, but most Jewish parties have pledged to refuse coalition with them.

Netanyahu will remain as caretaker PM while President Isaac Herzog begins consultations next week — warning that a second election "must be avoided."

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