Israel faces weeks of coalition haggling as Netanyahu’s party claims election 'stolen'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party declared on Thursday that the recent election had been "stolen" by Arab-led parties, as final results indicated his bloc had fallen short of a majority in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. The opposition accused Netanyahu of inciting anti-Arab sentiment following a significant showing by Arab-led parties in an attempt to discredit the election.

If the opposition parties, including those led by Arab citizens, join forces, they could form a majority government. The election commission confirmed that the investigation into allegations of foreign interference was ongoing, but it emphasized that the results would not be affected. Netanyahu's rivals accused him of attempting to undermine the election results and delegitimize potential alliances between his opponents and Arab parties.

The investigation was aimed at establishing the truth behind the allegations, but Netanyahu's party suggested that it was an attempt to block opposition coalitions. President Isaac Herzog called for a thorough investigation and urged caution against tarnishing an entire community that exercised its right to vote. The months ahead will see difficult decisions regarding potential alliances between different parties in order to form a government.