Netanyahu alleges election fraud as vote count nears deadlock
Ballot counting from Tuesday's election is nearing completion with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot securing a Knesset majority. Netanyahu’s Likud party has labeled recent allegations of Arab party Raam receiving foreign funding a "political earthquake" and claims the elections were stolen, while police say they found no evidence supporting these fraud accusations and the election panel reports no current concerns over vote integrity. Three senior Raam officials were arrested with envelopes containing over NIS 24,000 in cash, and Arab parties are projected to win a record 19 seats. Netanyahu also warned that Muslim Brotherhood supporters were attempting to raid polling stations, and his cousin, Bar‑Ilan University professor Nathan Netanyahu, announced he will not vote for Likud.
Key facts
- Dean Livne said suspects were caught near their homes, not at polling stations, and the case was localized.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged immediate arrests of Arab party leaders over unproven foreign‑funding claims.
- Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg requested a Shin Bet probe into alleged Qatari funding of Raam.
- Nathan Netanyahu listed four government 'sins': judicial reform, the 7 Oct security failure, lack of citizen support, and refusal to take responsibility.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed Arab parties aim to end the Jewish state.
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Why it matters
The dispute could affect coalition formation and Israel's political stability.
What changed
First published from The Jerusalem Post, Middle East Eye, Hindustan Times, The Straits Times and Anadolu Agency