Netanyahu bloc finishes ahead in Israel vote, but well short of majority

Jerusalem - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc secured victory in Israel's general election, emerging ahead of the opposition, but falling short of securing a majority. Final results from the Central Elections Committee, released on Friday, revealed Netanyahu's right-wing and far-right parties won 53 seats out of 120 in the Knesset, with his Likud party retaining its position as the largest faction with 27 seats.

Meanwhile, the opposition bloc, led by centrist Gadi Eisenkot, secured 48 seats. The Arab party groups Raam and the Joint List emerged as key players, winning a combined 19 seats. This fragmented result sets the stage for challenging coalition talks, which may last weeks, as no singular bloc can reach the 61-seat requirement for a majority government. Another election could occur if negotiations fail.

The election controversy centered around allegations that Raam received funding from Qatar, the energy-rich Gulf nation with links to Hamas, to finance vote-buying operations. Raam leader Mansour Abbas denied any wrongdoing and welcomed an investigation, while the Joint List accused Netanyahu and his allies of inciting fear of growing Arab political influence.

Despite the allegations, Israel's Shin Bet security service stated they were investigating suspected irregularities but emphasized the probe was not meant to cast blame on the entire sector. The election commission also sought to dispel tensions, calling any suggestion of widespread issues "groundless." Political analysts claim Netanyahu's attempt to challenge the election results is a coordinated effort to delegitimize the outcome.

Netanyahu has a history of alleged ties to Qatar, which has funded Hamas in Gaza, though the latest accusations have been dismissed as "ridiculous and dangerous" by Qatar. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, had previously raised accusations of fraud, alleging Arab parties received cash envelopes, an isolated local case according to the police.