Fraud alleged as officials investigate

Benjamin Netanyahu alleged on Thursday, without publicly presenting evidence, that voter fraud partly drove the record gains projected for Israel’s Arab parties. His Likud party called for police and the Shin Bet to investigate suspected bribery and intimidation at polling places in Arab towns, saying it held evidence that it had not released.

Police said at least seven people had been arrested in southern Israel since Tuesday on suspicion of voter fraud. Kan reported that they were suspected of trying to bribe people to vote for Ra’am. Party leader Mansour Abbas denied Ra’am was involved and called for a full investigation. The Central Election Committee said there was no basis for claims that the election’s integrity had been systematically harmed.

Committee head Noam Sohlberg also asked the Shin Bet to investigate suspicions that unidentified foreign actors had sought to intervene in the election. Likud accused Qatar of involvement, an allegation Qatar denied.

Arab representation reshapes coalition arithmetic

With nearly 93% of ballots counted, Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious bloc was projected to hold 53 seats, compared with 48 for the right-wing and centre-left alliance led by Eisenkot. Both remained short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. Arab parties were projected to secure an unprecedented 19 seats.

Eisenkot has ruled out broad Arab backing, but his camp could potentially seek a minority administration supported externally by Arab lawmakers. Once counting is complete, President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult party leaders and select the candidate he believes has the best chance of forming a government.

Joint List and Herzog push back

Joint List leader Ahmad Tibi accused Netanyahu of mounting a coordinated campaign to undermine the result and deter Eisenkot from relying on Arab support. LBCI reported that the Joint List portrayed the accusations as reflecting Netanyahu’s fear of its political strength. Abbas separately described the rhetoric as incitement against Arab citizens.

Eisenkot supported investigating suspected wrongdoing but accused Netanyahu of using the allegations to spread disorder and challenge the official outcome. Herzog likewise said the claims required investigation, while warning against casting suspicion over an entire community that had exercised its voting rights.