Israel election commission rejects Netanyahu charges of fraud

Israeli electoral authorities have dismissed allegations of fraud by Arab parties in the recent vote, stating that the election results accurately reflect the will of the voters. The Central Elections Committee, after conducting an audit of 9,069 polling stations, is confident in the integrity of the election, adding that they found no evidence of any wrongdoing.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly accused Arab-majority parties of fraud, citing the arrests of several individuals with envelopes of cash and alleging that lawmakers received money from Qatar. However, Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has stated that she would not question anyone without evidence following these reports.

Netanyahu's Likud party has criticized her, alleging that she is attempting to obstruct the investigation and cover up a serious case of manipulation of the electoral process by foreign actors. Eisenkot, Netanyahu's main rival, has accused Likud of launching a "pogrom against democracy" and warned against Netanyahu launching a new war against Iran, which could help him push for a unity government or delay new elections.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has called for a "broad national government" and is seeking to form a government with himself at the top. President Isaac Herzog, who has the power to decide who gets the first chance to try to form a government, stated that neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot has the 61 seats needed to secure a majority in the 120-member parliament.

The opposition bloc, led by Yair Lapid, is considering relying on parties from the Arab minority for support, but some have opposed this idea. If no one can form a government within 28 days, Herzog will have the option to give the mandate to someone else or call for new elections.