Netanyahu claims Israel's election was 'stolen' by Arab parties even as his bloc pulls ahead in the count
Supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu at a rally during Israel's general election, as the highest turnout since 1999 left roughly 600,000 military absentee ballots uncounted and no winner declared.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.
With 86% of votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud bloc is on course for 53 seats against rival Gadi Eisenkot's 48 in Israel's 120-seat Knesset — yet neither side holds the 61 seats needed to govern. Arab Israeli parties have won a historic 19 seats, making them kingmakers in a hung parliament, prompting Netanyahu to demand police and Shin Bet investigate what he called "bribery, threats, violence, forgeries and prohibited software" used to mobilise Arab voters.
Netanyahu will remain caretaker PM while coalition talks proceed, a process President Isaac Herzog warned could trigger yet another election.
Israel's shekel weakened and stocks fell as markets reacted to a political deadlock; a record 77.7% of voters turned out — the highest in over two decades.
