Israeli opposition accuses Netanyahu of trying to 'delegitimise' election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has accused Arab-led parties of stealing the recent election, possibly with foreign help, as final results could show their bloc has lost its majority in parliament. Opponents claim Netanyahu is trying to discredit Arab citizens after they performed well in the polls. If the opposition joins forces with Arab parties, they might form a majority government in the Knesset.

Netanyahu's party has been spreading claims of wrongdoing by Arab-led parties since exit polls indicated a setback for the prime minister. The election committee's head, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, received serious allegations of foreign interference but said he cannot verify them and asked for an investigation. Netanyahu's party alleged that the interference aimed at facilitating a foreign takeover of the Knesset, Islamizing Israel, and toppling the right-wing government.

However, without evidence, Netanyahu accused Qatar of involvement, which they denied as "ridiculous and dangerous." Netanyahu's rival, Gadi Eisenkot, accused Likud of trying to delegitimize the results due to their loss. Netanyahu has long faced accusations of accepting money from Qatar, which could cause tension if he tries to block alliances between his opponents and Arab parties.

The investigation into alleged election interference is ongoing, and the Knesset requires a decision by November 4.