Netanyahu, at risk of losing power, steps up attacks on Israel's Arab parties

Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition allies have cast doubt on the validity of record Arab-Israeli voter turnout following Tuesday's national polls, with Netanyahu alleging without evidence that gains by Arab parties were driven by voter fraud. According to Al-Monitor, Arab leaders rejected these allegations and accused the premier of incitement.

Haaretz reports that the top election official was asked to investigate accusations of Qatari fraud and bribery, while The National UAE notes that Central Elections Committee chairman Noam Sohlberg asked the Shin Bet to investigate "serious suspicions" of "hostile" foreign interference, including claims of Qatari money funding Arab parties.

The high Arab turnout has indicated a stalemate in what CBS News describes as an election with no clear winner, creating political uncertainty. The National UAE reported that Shin Bet chief David Zini previously stated the elections were being conducted in a proper manner and did not raise prospects of wrongdoing at the time of the election. Opposition members criticized the claims of a "stolen" election, arguing that doubting the high turnout undermines Israel's democratic claims.

Separately, Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress and a former confidant of Netanyahu, expressed disillusionment with the prime minister. Middle East Eye reports that Lauder accused Netanyahu of prioritizing his political future over peace by abandoning a negotiated agreement with Syria and Lebanon in the late 1990s.

Lauder also claimed that Netanyahu is undermining democracy and empowering far-right ministers whose policies damage Israel's relationships with western governments, Jewish communities abroad, and Arab neighbors.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Middle East Eye, Haaretz, The National UAE, CBS News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.