Netanyahu's bloc keeps its lead in Israel's vote count after Likud claimed Arab parties 'stole' the election
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.
With 85.6% of ballots counted, Netanyahu's Likud bloc is projected at 53 seats against Eisenkot's 48, but Arab Israeli parties have won a historic 19 seats — leaving neither side close to the 61 needed for a governing majority. Netanyahu hailed Likud as "the largest party in Israel" and accused polls of having deliberately understated his support to suppress turnout. Israeli police say there is no evidence of Arab party meddling, and Likud has not publicly released the evidence it claims to have gathered.
Netanyahu's Likud alleged "bribery, threats, violence, forgeries and prohibited software" by Arab parties, disputed by Israeli police.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is urging lawmakers to keep "an open mind" and avoid a second election, raising the prospect of a unity government.
Israeli stocks fell and the shekel weakened after Netanyahu's bloc beat polling forecasts, rattling markets.
