JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has alleged that the country’s parliamentary election was “stolen”, after official results showed his bloc falling short of the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset.
According to the Associated Press, Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, while the opposition bloc won 48. Arab-led parties obtained the remaining 19 seats, making their position potentially significant in the negotiations to form the next government.
Likud has alleged that Arab-led parties were involved in electoral wrongdoing and raised concerns about possible foreign interference. However, the party has not presented evidence to substantiate its claims.
The Election Committee has said allegations of systematic violations affecting the integrity of the vote are baseless. It also clarified that an inquiry into possible foreign interference would not affect the final results or target any particular community.
The Associated Press reported that the head of the Election Committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, had referred concerns about possible foreign interference to Israel’s domestic security agency, Shin Bet. The agency has said the inquiry should not cast suspicion on Arab citizens who exercised their right to vote.
Opposition leaders have accused Netanyahu’s party of attempting to undermine the election outcome. Gadi Eisenkot, whose bloc secured 48 seats, has criticised Likud’s allegations.
The results leave Israel facing a complicated coalition-building process. The opposition and Arab-led parties together hold 67 seats, but whether they can reach an agreement to form a government remains uncertain.
President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations with political parties after the results are formally certified. Netanyahu will remain prime minister during the government-formation process. If no coalition is formed within the stipulated period, Israel could face another election.