Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has accused Arab-led political parties of stealing the recent election through alleged fraud and foreign interference, igniting a contentious dispute as final results indicate Netanyahu’s bloc lost its parliamentary majority. The Central Elections Committee reported that Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition coalition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats, and Arab-led parties combined won a record 19 seats. Neither bloc achieved the 61 seats required to form a government, raising the possibility that Arab parties could play a kingmaker role.

Netanyahu’s party alleged that the Arab parties, primarily the Joint List and Ra’am, engaged in criminal acts including bribery, voter intimidation, manipulation using illegal software, and ballot tampering. The Likud also claimed foreign assistance, pointing to Qatar as a suspected actor supporting increased Arab voter turnout, a charge Doha has vehemently denied as "ridiculous and dangerous." No conclusive evidence has been publicly presented by Netanyahu’s party.

The chairman of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, acknowledged receiving serious suspicions of foreign interference, prompting a request to the Shin Bet security agency to investigate. However, Sohlberg emphasized that these remain unverified, and election officials, including acting director Dean Livneh, have stated there is no evidence of systematic violations that would compromise the election’s integrity. Shin Bet described its inquiry as focused and limited in scope and stressed it was not intended to implicate an entire community.

Arab parties strongly rebutted the allegations, framing them as attempts to delegitimize their historic gains and undermine Arab citizens’ political participation. The Joint List accused Netanyahu of incitement and called for opposition factions to cease repeating unsubstantiated claims. Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra’am party, welcomed the security investigation and denied any wrongdoing by his party, emphasizing a commitment to democratic principles.

The election campaign saw unprecedented turnout among Arab voters, with participation driven by dissatisfaction with Netanyahu’s far-right government and perceptions of discrimination. Turnout rates in some Arab localities reached as high as 85 percent. Analysts suggest this surge was a direct response to Netanyahu’s rhetoric and policies, and a desire among many Palestinian citizens of Israel to influence the country’s political direction.

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot and others accused Netanyahu of seeking to delegitimize the vote to prevent any coalition that might include Arab party support. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have publicly ruled out forming a government with Arab parties, complicating coalition-building efforts. President Isaac Herzog, tasked with overseeing government formation, called for a full investigation but urged against stigmatizing Arab voters, describing the period as a “sensitive moment” for Israeli democracy.

If neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot can assemble a majority coalition, Israel may face another election in the near future. Political analysts note that repeated elections could affect voter turnout, particularly among Arab and overseas Israelis who tend to favor more liberal parties, potentially altering the political landscape once again. The current political deadlock underscores ongoing divisions within Israeli society and reflects the broader challenge of integrating Arab political representation within the country’s governance framework.