Israeli Opposition Accuses Netanyahu of Election Interference

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot and leaders of Arab-majority parties have denounced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of orchestrating a campaign to delegitimize the election results. Netanyahu's Likud party alleged that Arab-led parties "stole" the election, prompting the Shin Bet security agency to investigate claims of illegal foreign funding from Qatar and Turkey.

Qatar's foreign ministry denied the allegations, calling them "ridiculous and dangerous" and accusing Israeli politicians of spreading disinformation. Final results confirmed that neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the main opposition had secured a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The two Arab party lists, The Joint List and the Ra'am, achieved a record 19 seats, potentially positioning them as kingmakers.

Netanyahu's Likud party claimed voters had been "bribed" to vote for Arab parties, following a request from the Central Elections Committee (CEC) chair for the Shin Bet to investigate "serious suspicions" of foreign interference. Both Arab parties rejected the claims as baseless. Critics view Netanyahu's actions as an attempt to undermine the Arab parties, thereby hindering Eisenkot's ability to form a government with their support.

While the Shin Bet clarified that the investigation did not implicate an entire community and the acting CEC Director General stated there was "no basis for allegations of systematic violations of election integrity," Netanyahu and Likud framed the allegations as a "political earthquake" and an "attack on democracy." Eisenkot stated it was too early to determine the facts of the investigation but accused Netanyahu of running an "orchestrated and organized campaign to delegitimize the election results." Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, part of the Joint List, dismissed the allegations as a "racist blood libel" intended to overturn the results.

Netanyahu had previously raised concerns on election day about high Arab turnout, describing it as an "emergency" and using AI-generated images to encourage right-wing voters. Arab Israelis constitute approximately one-fifth of the country's population. Many have historically boycotted elections, viewing it as a means to legitimize a system they believe treats them as second-class citizens. However, increased turnout this time was driven by a desire to unseat Netanyahu's right-wing coalition.

Three primary scenarios exist for government formation: a national unity government between Netanyahu and Eisenkot, a right-wing coalition with defectors from Eisenkot's bloc, or an Eisenkot-led government supported by Arab parties. Despite past reluctance from Eisenkot's bloc to partner with Arab parties, speculation persists about a potential agreement. A recent poll indicated a minority government led by Eisenkot, with support from Ra'am and the Joint List, as the most popular opposition option among voters.