The Election in Israel

Israel faces political deadlock – Arab parties see record-breaking election results

With over 90 percent of the votes counted, Israel is heading toward a political deadlock.

The Arab parties—the Joint List and Ra’am—appear set to secure a record number of seats combined, potentially positioning them as kingmakers, reports *The Times of Israel*. Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot might require their support to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu, though several other opposition parties oppose any such cooperation.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s Likud party has accused the Arab parties of electoral fraud, without providing any evidence. Both the electoral authority and the police have dismissed these allegations. 

Israel’s President warns: “Do not vilify Arabs”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called for a thorough investigation into suspicions that Arab parties received foreign funding during the election. At the same time, he has warned against casting blame on the country’s Arab population.

“We must not vilify an entire group of people who wanted to exercise their right to vote and participate actively in democracy,” he told AFP.

Herzog emphasized that anyone found guilty must be apprehended and held accountable.

Election interference under investigation in Israel: “An attack on democracy”

Israel’s Central Elections Committee has requested that the security service, Shin Bet, investigate suspicions of foreign interference in the election. Among the allegations, Qatar is accused of having funded efforts to boost voter turnout among the Arab population, according to a report by *Haaretz*. "This is an attack on democracy aimed at facilitating a foreign takeover of the Knesset," claims Benjamin Netanyahu’s party, Likud.

The party alleges that the election has been stolen. A high-ranking police source, however, dismisses the accusations as groundless, stating that there is no evidence of electoral fraud.