Netanyahu claims election was stolen as Israel faces coalition deadlock
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies allege fraud by Arab parties after losing their parliamentary majority, while election officials say the vote was conducted properly.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party fell short of the 61-seat majority needed to form a government in the recent Knesset election, securing 53 seats. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot holds 48 seats, and with the support of Arab parties Joint List and Raam, reaches a majority of 67 seats.
Netanyahu and his right-wing allies have accused the Arab parties of bribery, foreign funding and fraud, calling for investigations and, in some statements, the possibility of a new election. They cite a police arrest of three Raam activists on a cash-for-votes allegation and a letter from the Central Elections Committee chair to the Shin Bet chief requesting a probe into foreign funding. Far-right figures have suggested arrests of Arab party leaders and alleged foreign influence, which Qatar denied.
Election authorities rejected the fraud claims, stating that the Central Elections Committee found no evidence of systematic irregularities and affirmed that the ballot results would be honored. The committee chair, along with the Shin Bet head and the attorney-general, issued a joint statement confirming the integrity of the vote.
Opposition leaders described Netanyahu's allegations as an attempt to delegitimize the election outcome. Eisenkot called the campaign a "despicable and malicious influence operation," while Yair Golan said it reflects the behavior of a leader unwilling to accept defeat. The Joint List responded that the accusations will not erase the voters' choice.
The stalemate leaves Israel facing weeks or months of political uncertainty as parties negotiate a coalition that can command a parliamentary majority.