Likud Claims Israel's Vote Was Stolen by Arab Parties
The claim follows a sharp drop in far-right seats and a new investigation into possible foreign funding from Qatar.
By Jasmine Carter ·
Israel's election process has entered a contentious phase as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party declared the recent vote stolen.
On Thursday, Likud released a statement alleging that Arab-majority parties secured foreign funding to buy votes. The party described the move as an attack on democracy intended to lead to a foreign takeover of the Knesset and the Islamization of Israel.
The dispute comes after Tuesday's election results showed a major shift in power. The far-right bloc led by Netanyahu lost its majority in the 120-seat parliament. Its share of seats dropped from 68 to 53. This decline is largely attributed to the strong performance of Israel's Arab minority parties.
These parties, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel who make up about 20% of the population, won 19 seats. That total is the highest number of seats ever secured by Arab parties in a single election. Their success is the primary reason Netanyahu's coalition can no longer form a government on its own.
The main opposition bloc, composed of four parties, won 48 seats. To build a government, they would need support from the Arab parties. Leaders of the two largest Arab parties have indicated they are willing to help oust Netanyahu. However, most Jewish-led opposition parties had promised voters before the election that they would not rely on Arab support to form a government.
Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet, opened an investigation into possible foreign influence on Thursday. The agency clarified that the probe is bounded and does not place blame on the entire sector that voted. One theory under review involves money sent from Qatar to Arab parties to boost voter turnout.
Qatar's foreign ministry rejected the accusation. Spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari said the country categorically denies interfering in Israeli elections or funding activities to influence the outcome. He added that Qatar should not serve as a scapegoat for the political failures of Israeli politicians.
Din Livne, the Acting Director-General of the Central Elections Committee, wrote to a committee member on Thursday. He stated there is no basis for claims that the integrity of the elections was systematically compromised. The vote counting is officially complete, but the results still require certification by President Isaac Herzog before the new parliament can be sworn in.
Gadi Eisenkot, head of the centrist Yashar party and the top candidate to replace Netanyahu, expressed concern about the stolen election narrative. In a social media post, he said Netanyahu is running an improper influence operation to delay the publication of results and delegitimize the new Knesset. Eisenkot noted that his bloc and the Arab parties could begin passing laws immediately after swearing in, as they hold a majority.
Netanyahu will remain in his post as a caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. If the parties cannot negotiate a coalition, the country will hold another election, and Netanyahu will continue to serve in the interim.
