JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party on Thursday amplified allegations that the country’s Arab parties “stole” the election, saying final results are set to confirm that Netanyahu’s bloc has lost its majority in parliament.
The opposition accused Netanyahu of demonizing the Arab population after a historic display by Arab parties. If the rest of the opposition joins them in a rare and politically risky move, they will form the next government. The final results of the vote are expected Thursday evening.
Netanyahu seized a new request from the country’s election committee to the Shin Bet intelligence service to investigate allegations of election interference by “unspecified foreign entities against Israeli interests.” Although the request made no reference to Arab-led parties, the prime minister and his Likud party said no party should cooperate with Arab-led parties.
“The elections in Israel were stolen!” ” said Likud, claiming without evidence that the alleged interference “aimed to facilitate a foreign takeover of the Knesset, the Islamization of Israel and the overthrow of the right-wing government.”
It is not clear who made the latest allegations. But Qatar issued a categorical statement: “We categorically deny allegations that Qatar interfered in Israeli elections or financed any activity intended to influence their outcome,” it said, adding that it was accused of buying the Arab vote.
The election commission did not provide further details and the Shin Bet did not respond to questions. The committee wants conclusions within the week. Israeli law requires election results to be certified by November 4.
Opposition leaders were among those who feared that Netanyahu was preparing to question the legitimacy of the vote. “Netanyahu is working to steal the elections,” the Joint List said.
Netanyahu campaigned on alleged Arab threat
Even before the vote, Netanyahu and Likud portrayed Arab parties as a danger to Israel, which critics said was an attempt to further marginalize Arab citizens who make up 20% of the population but are often viewed with suspicion because of their sympathies for other Palestinians.
These election attacks, along with anger over Netanyahu and his divisive far-right government, have brought outraged Arabs to the polls like never before.
On Thursday, Yair Golan, head of the Democratic Party, accused Netanyahu of “attempting to undermine the election results through a nasty delegitimization campaign directed against the will of the public – and against the Arab public in particular.”
Arab Raam party leader Mansour Abbas welcomed the investigation into election interference and said his party had nothing to do with the matter, while accusing Netanyahu of an incitement campaign.
Netanyahu’s main rival, former military leader Gadi Eisenkotwarned that political actors should not “exploit the situation” to influence the timing of the swearing-in of the next parliament, scheduled for November 10. Eisenkot’s Yashar party said it had been informed by the Shin Bet chief.
Even the elections committee seemed to sound a note of caution. “To our knowledge, there is no basis to assert systematic violations of election integrity,” its acting director general said in a letter dated Thursday to a lawmaker.
President Isaac Herzog, who is soon expected to task Netanyahu or one of his opponents with forming the next government, called it a “sensitive moment” and called for a thorough investigation. He warned that “we must not tarnish an entire community that sought to exercise its right to vote and take an active part in democracy.”
Tough decisions lie ahead as parties seek coalitions
Developments have amplified difficult decisions for the coming weeks. These include whether some Jewish and Arab parties would join forces in a historic alliance, or whether some parties that campaigned to oust Netanyahu would put that aside and join forces with him.
As the race for the 61-seat majority needed to control the 120-seat Knesset continues, Netanyahu remains in charge.
Local media forecast 53 parliamentary seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, 48 seats for opposition parties and 19 for Arab parties, which also want Netanyahu out.
If Netanyahu were to lose office, it would set off a cascade of events that critics say he has been desperate to avoid. Several years of corruption allegations would be taken into account, and an investigation would almost certainly be launched into the security failures that led to the devastating attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Netanyahu’s Likud targets Arab parties
Despite receiving the largest number of votes, Netanyahu’s Likud on Wednesday accused Arab-led parties of stealing the election and called on the election commission to investigate. She did not provide any specific evidence to support her claims.
Even without playing a role in a coalition, Arab-led parties could assert their growing power by supporting other Netanyahu opponents in the next parliament. This could include electing a new president, giving him control of the agenda and possibly allowing him to advance and pass laws before a new government is formed.
Eisenkot said he was open, under certain conditions, to joining forces with Arab-led parties. Ahmad Tibi, second on the Joint List, told Army Radio that the opposition bloc had contacted him to discuss replacing the Knesset speaker, and he told them the party would support the bloc’s candidate.
Small rallies took place overnight in Tel Aviv and the much more conservative Jerusalem in support of a coalition including Arab-led parties. Until 2021, no Arab party had joined a coalition government, and it was brief.
If a new government cannot be formed after several attempts, Israel will face new elections early next year. On Wednesday, Herzog indicated that he wanted to avoid this step – something Eisenkot also said.
New elections raise new questions, including whether Arab citizens will turn out to vote in large numbers and whether the tens of thousands of Israelis who returned home to vote will do so again. Many said they took this step to save the country from Netanyahu.
A deeply divided Israel could see Netanyahu remain in power
Israel, divided along multiple fault lines – Jews and Arabs, secular and religious – entered the elections with enormous and painful stakes.
These include whether the rapidly growing ultra-Orthodox population should remain exempt from compulsory military service in a country where many families have seen their sons and daughters killed during three years of inconclusive wars.
Netanyahu has been particularly polarizing. His opponents accused him of delaying the conclusion of agreements on the war in Gaza, in particular on the release of hostages, for political purposes.
While many Israelis voted with security concerns foremost in mind, the country’s international reputation is also at stake after widespread criticism of the treatment of Israelis. Palestinians in Gaza and the increasing violence of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.
For Arab citizens, there is cautious hope for change. “God willing, we will have something for us in the government, something that will assert our rights,” said Brosli Elias, a resident of Nazareth, one of Israel’s largest Arab cities.
Meanwhile, the threat of further strikes against Iran adds to electoral uncertainty. The Trump administration has spoken of new attacks after midterm elections on November 3. Experts said Netanyahu could take advantage of another all-out war to push for a unity government with him at the helm.
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Saeed reported from Abu Snan. Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
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