Netanyahu’s Likud Claims Israel Election ‘Stolen’ as Results Show Bloc Losing Majority

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has alleged, without providing evidence, that Arab-led parties “stole” the election, as completed results showed his political bloc falling short of a parliamentary majority.

Israel voted on Tuesday, October 27, and election officials completed the count on Thursday. The final results, published early Friday, showed Netanyahu’s bloc winning 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the main opposition secured 48 seats and Arab-led parties won 19.

The results are due to be formally submitted to President Isaac Herzog on November 4, after checks of possible errors and complaints. The newly elected Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10. Likud intensified its allegations after election committee chief and Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg referred suspicions of possible foreign interference to the Shin Bet security agency. Sohlberg said he could not verify the claims but requested an investigation because of their seriousness.

The party subsequently declared that the election had been stolen, alleging foreign interference aimed at undermining the right-wing government.

The election commission cautioned against unfounded reports, saying the investigation would not affect the results submitted to the president or target any particular section of the population. The Shin Bet also stressed that the probe was not intended to cast aspersions on Arab citizens who had voted lawfully.

Opposition leaders accused Netanyahu of undermining the election and attempting to delegitimise Arab voters following their strong showing. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s main rival, said Likud was questioning the results because it had lost.

Arab citizens account for about 20 per cent of Israel’s population and turned out in significant numbers amid opposition to Netanyahu’s divisive campaign and far-right government.

Neither major bloc secured the 61 seats required for a majority. The opposition would need support from Arab-led parties to form a government, although such cooperation remains politically sensitive.

Netanyahu remains in office while coalition negotiations unfold. If parties fail to form a government after multiple attempts, Israel could face another election early next year.