Netanyahu’s election claims draw rebuttals as neither bloc secures a majority

After Israel’s election left both Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and the opposition short of a parliamentary majority, Likud alleged that Arab-led parties benefited from election fraud and foreign funding. Arab party leaders and Qatar denied the allegations, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot said the claims risked delegitimising the result.

• Final results gave Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats and Eisenkot’s bloc 48; Arab-led lists won 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Neither bloc had a majority.· 1 source
• Likud accused Arab-led parties of election fraud and foreign interference, and referred allegations to authorities. The Central Elections Committee’s acting director general said there was no basis for claims of systematic violations.· 2 sources
• Eisenkot and Arab party leaders rejected Netanyahu’s accusations and said they could make it harder for the opposition to work with Arab parties. Qatar also denied interfering in or funding activities to influence the election.· 2 sources
• The Arab parties’ seats could affect coalition talks. The Joint List said it would cooperate with an opposition-led government but not join a coalition, while Ra’am indicated it could join if its demands were met.· 1 source
• President Isaac Herzog urged restraint and cautioned against stigmatising Arab citizens. The president was due to task someone with forming a government; if attempts failed, another election could follow.· 1 source