Netanyahu alleges foreign-backed vote buying by Arab parties after election loss
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Arab Israeli parties received foreign funding to influence the recent election, prompting criticism from opposition leaders and officials who said the allegations lack evidence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Arab Israeli parties were backed by foreign money to "steal" the recent election, in which his Likud-led coalition fell short of a parliamentary majority. He urged the internal security service, Shin Bet, to investigate alleged vote-buying in Palestinian communities in Israel.
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu and Likud of launching a coordinated campaign to delegitimize the election results, saying any inquiry should be carried out "without fear or favour" and must not delay the convening of the new Knesset, which is expected to be sworn in within two weeks.
The president, Isaac Herzog, rebuked the prime minister for "tarnishing an entire community" that exercised its right to vote. Police and the central elections committee found no evidence of irregularities, describing the allegations as unfounded.
Netanyahu’s statement posted on X, via a Likud release, framed the alleged violations as an "attack on democracy" aimed at a foreign takeover of the Knesset, the Islamisation of Israel, and the overthrow of right-wing rule. The post warned that no Zionist party should cooperate with Ra’am and the Joint List, accusing them of buying votes with cash.
Leaders of the Joint List and Ra’am, which together hold 19 seats – a historic high for Arab Israeli parties – rejected the claims. Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen said Netanyahu was "defeated at the ballot box" and refused to accept the election outcome. Ahmad Tibi added that the campaign was intended to intimidate opposition leader Eisenkot and prevent a government that relies on Arab party support.
Qatar, cited in press reports as the alleged foreign backer, denied any involvement. The election resulted in Likud holding 53 seats, Eisenkot’s bloc 48 seats, and the Arab parties 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Discussions continue over possible tactical voting to replace speaker Amir Ohana and to advance legislation, including a proposed inquiry into security failures preceding the October 2023 Hamas attack.