Likud says Israeli election ‘stolen’ by Arab parties

Israeli Arab politician Ayman Odeh has called for a genuine and equal partnership between Jews and Arabs in Israel to overcome the threat posed by the far-right. In a statement on X, Odeh suggested that the Netanyahu-led coalition would have won a full majority in the recent election if it were not for the significant support of Israel's Palestinian citizens.

He emphasized the importance of forging such a partnership, stating that "without a genuine and equal Jewish-Arab partnership, it's impossible to build a better future here for all of us. And we all deserve such a future."

The far-right parties, led by Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, have accused the Joint List party, which includes Odeh's Hadash-Ta'al, of attempting to undermine the election results without presenting any evidence. Odeh's co-leader, Ahmad Tibi, dismissed these allegations as mere rhetoric from the defeated party. He told Al Jazeera that the accusations were an attempt to delegitimize the votes cast for Arab parties.

Tibi also stated that Hadash-Ta'al was on track to win 12 seats in the Knesset, a significant victory in the recent elections. The statement highlights the political tensions within Israeli society and the importance of building cooperation between different ethnic groups to ensure a stable and inclusive future for all citizens.