Netanyahu's party claims Israel's election was stolen. Now what?

Tel Aviv — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party accused Israel's recent election of being rigged by Arab parties, citing foreign funding and vote-buying, as results revealed their bloc had lost its majority in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Arab parties, making up about 20% of the population, won an all-time high of 19 out of 120 seats in the election.

This success is a significant factor in Netanyahu's bloc failing to secure a majority and form a new government. The far-right bloc's Knesset seat share dropped from 68 to 53.

Netanyahu's Likud party declared the election a theft, accusing an attack on democracy that threatens foreign takeover of the Knesset, Islamization of Israel, and the overthrow of the right-wing government to force an IDF withdrawal and defeat on all fronts. The main opposition bloc, comprising four parties, won 48 seats, and would likely need support from the Arab parties to form a coalition.

However, most Jewish-led opposition parties vowed not to rely on Arab-party support for forming a government, leaving uncertainty over potential cooperation.

Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet, has opened an investigation into possible foreign influence in the election, though the investigation's scope remains unclear. The Acting Director-General of the Central Elections Committee, Din Livne, stated that there is no basis to claims of systematic compromise of the elections' integrity.

Media reports suggest one of the allegations the Shin Bet investigation will consider is whether Qatar provided funds to Arab parties to boost turnout among Arab Israeli voters. Qatar's foreign ministry denied the accusation, stating they categorically deny any interference in Israeli elections or activities intended to influence their outcome.

An improper influence operation, according to centrist Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, who is top to replace Netanyahu as prime minister. Netanyahu, backed by Trump, remains caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. If parties fail to form a new coalition, Israel would have to hold new elections, with Netanyahu remaining as prime minister in the interim.