Netanyahu's Party Claims Election 'Stolen' Amidst Unsubstantiated Interference Allegations

JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party has amplified unsubstantiated allegations that Arab-led parties "stole" the election, potentially with foreign assistance, as final results indicate his bloc has lost its majority in the 120-member parliament.

The opposition accuses Netanyahu's Likud party of demonizing the Arab population to delegitimize the vote, following a historic showing by Arab-led parties.

Results released early Friday showed Netanyahu's bloc winning 53 seats, a significant decrease from its previous 68 seats. The main opposition secured 48 seats, and Arab-led parties obtained 19 seats. The results are awaiting certification before being submitted to the president next Wednesday.

Netanyahu's Likud began promoting claims of malfeasance by Arab-led parties after initial exit polls suggested a setback for the prime minister. The rhetoric intensified after the head of Israel's election committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, stated that "serious suspicions" of foreign interference had been presented to him.

Sohlberg informed the Shin Bet security agency that he could not verify these claims but requested an investigation due to their serious nature. In response, Likud issued a statement declaring, "The elections in Israel have been stolen!" The party claimed, without providing evidence, that alleged interference was intended to facilitate a "foreign takeover of the Knesset, the Islamization of Israel and toppling of the right wing government."

Israeli media reported that Likud members accused Qatar of involvement, a country viewed by many Israelis as a patron of the militant group Hamas. Qatar swiftly denied the allegations, labeling them "ridiculous and dangerous."

The election commission's acting director general, Dean Livne, stated that reports about the probe were "entirely unfounded" and that the investigation, based on classified intelligence, would not affect the final results. She warned that the reports did not concern any particular sector of the population.

Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's main rival and former military chief, asserted that Likud's actions were an attempt to delegitimize the results because they had lost. Eisenkot also made a sarcastic remark, welcoming Netanyahu's condemnation of Qatari involvement in Israel.

Critics suggest that by casting doubt on the vote's integrity, Netanyahu aims to prevent a potential alliance between his opponents and Arab parties. Netanyahu has previously characterized any alliance between his opponents and Arab parties as treasonous.

The Shin Bet stated its investigation was not intended to "cast aspersions" on any population group that "exercised its right to vote in a democratic and lawful manner." The elections committee further clarified that allegations of systematic violations of electoral integrity were baseless.

Netanyahu and Likud had previously characterized Arab-led parties as a danger to Israel, a tactic that critics argued served to further marginalize Arab citizens, who constitute 20% of the population. These campaign attacks, coupled with public anger over Netanyahu's divisive leadership and his far-right government, contributed to unprecedented voter turnout among Arab citizens.

Yair Golan, head of the Democrats party, accused Netanyahu of attempting to undermine the election results and targeting the Arab public. The Arab-led Joint List party also asserted that Netanyahu was working to steal the election.

Mansour Abbas, head of the Arab-led Ra’am party, welcomed the investigation into election interference but stated his party was not involved, accusing Netanyahu of incitement.

President Isaac Herzog described the situation as a "sensitive moment" and called for a full investigation, cautioning against tarnishing an entire community's democratic participation.

The unfolding events raise complex decisions for the coming weeks, including the possibility of a historic alliance between Jewish and Arab parties. Netanyahu remains in charge while the formation of a 61-seat majority coalition is deliberated.

Should Netanyahu be ousted, it could trigger investigations into corruption allegations and security failures preceding the Oct. 7 attack. Even without joining a coalition, Arab-led parties could leverage their growing influence to impact the Knesset's agenda, potentially advancing legislation.

Eisenkot has indicated openness to an alliance with Arab-led parties under certain conditions. Ahmad Tibi, a prominent figure in the Arab-led Joint List, confirmed discussions with the opposition bloc regarding the replacement of the Knesset speaker, with the Joint List intending to support the bloc's candidate.

Small rallies in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem have shown support for a coalition that includes Arab-led parties. Historically, Arab parties have rarely joined coalition governments, with a brief exception in 2021.

Failure to form a new government could lead to another election early next year, a scenario President Herzog has expressed a desire to avoid. Such an election would raise questions about continued high turnout among Arab citizens and the participation of Israelis abroad.