Netanyahu accuses Arab parties of stealing votes in Israeli election
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Arab parties of stealing the election two days after the vote. Arab parties won 19 of 120 Knesset seats, while neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition has a governing majority.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared two days after the parliamentary election that Arab parties had stolen the vote. The claim came as neither his allies nor the opposition secured enough seats in the 120-seat Knesset, the Israeli parliament, to form a government.
Record result for Arab parties
The main surprise of the election was the performance of Arab parties: the United List alliance and the RAAM party together won 19 seats, a result described as unprecedented in Israeli history. United List leader Yousef Jabareen said the parties intend to use their influence to help remove Netanyahu and his government from power. RAAM has joined a governing coalition before, in the government of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, formed in 2021 and lasting a year and a half.
Netanyahu's allegations and the response
Netanyahu claimed the election was stolen through serious crimes, including bribery, threats, violence, falsification and the use of banned software to mobilise voters. He said his Likud party is handing police, the Shin Bet security service and the Central Elections Committee hundreds of testimonies and pieces of evidence. Knesset member Ahmad Tibi rejected the accusations, saying Arab citizens voted democratically and that Netanyahu fears the very fact of Arab participation.
Coalition arithmetic
Netanyahu and his allies are 8 seats short of a coalition, while his opponents, led by Yashar party leader and former chief of the general staff Gadi Eisenkot, are 13 short. The opposition did not reach the 61 seats needed to form a government. Sociologist Konstantin Gaaze said a repeat election in March is possible, though an opposition united mainly by dislike of Netanyahu may struggle to stay together until then.
Iran and Gaza
Netanyahu also spoke of an opportunity to work with US President Donald Trump to remove the threat from Iran. Gaza resident Mustafa Ibrahim said Palestinians hope for a different government that would advance a ceasefire and reconstruction.
