Israel election: No fraud found; Netanyahu, Eisenkot begin coalition talks - Govt formation process, timeline explained
Herzog's consultations and coalition talks will determine whether Netanyahu retains power, Eisenkot forms a government or Israel heads for another election.
Israel finds itself in the midst of a potential constitutional crisis as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intensifies his efforts to dispute the recent election results, leading opposition politicians to allege that he is attempting to "crush democracy". This escalation occurred on Tuesday evening when Israel's Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, released a statement accusing the head of Israel's internal security agency, David Zini, of undermining the rule of law.
Zini, who is part of Netanyahu's government, had proposed questioning four Arab politicians suspected of involvement in a foreign-funded campaign to sway the October 27 elections. However, no evidence was presented, and the Central Elections Committee (CEC) maintained the legitimacy of the vote. The Attorney General's office noted that it was "not possible to interrogate citizens or elected officials without evidence that justifies it" in a country governed by the rule of law.
In response, Zini urged the Shin Bet to continue investigating allegations of foreign influence, stating that thousands of people may have been involved. Opposition figures, such as Yair Golan, have accused Netanyahu of using the Shin Bet as a political tool to undermine the election outcome. Meanwhile, President Isaac Herzog faces the challenge of forming a new government, as no party secured a majority in the recent elections.
The Arab-majority parties won 19 seats, potentially playing a crucial role in coalition negotiations, though no coalition leader has expressed interest in collaborating with them. The opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, secured 48 seats, while Netanyahu's Likud party won 53 seats, down from 64 in 2022. Despite the CEC's declaration of the election results' validity, far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Zini to arrest and interrogate Arab party leaders, branding the situation as a "call for a coup d'état."
Opposition leader Yair Lapid warned that Netanyahu's actions constitute an attempt to "crush democracy" and "steal the election."
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