JERUSALEM (Azat TV) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party amplified unsubstantiated allegations on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, claiming that Arab-led parties had stolen the national election with potential foreign assistance, as final results showed his governing bloc had lost its majority in the Knesset. According to PBS NewsHour, the official vote tally released by election officials on Thursday gave Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats in the 120-member assembly, a steep drop from the 68 seats it held at its peak in the previous parliament. The main opposition secured 48 seats, while Arab-led parties captured the remaining 19 seats.
While vote counting has concluded, the final results still await formal certification and submission to Israeli President Isaac Herzog next Wednesday. The political standoff sets the stage for complex coalition negotiations, potentially opening a rare path for the opposition to form a government if it can secure backing from Arab-led factions.
Foreign Interference Claims and Security Probe
The escalation followed a letter sent by Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, head of Israel’s election committee, to the Shin Bet security agency. Sohlberg stated that serious suspicions of foreign interference had been brought to his attention. Although he noted he could not verify the claims, he requested an investigation due to their gravity. PBS NewsHour reported that Likud seized on the inquiry to declare that the election had been stolen, alleging a plot aimed at foreign takeover and the Islamization of Israel.
Israeli media outlets reported that Likud members pointed toward Qatar, a nation often accused in Israeli political circles of maintaining ties with Hamas. Qatar swiftly rejected the allegations, labeling them ridiculous and dangerous. Meanwhile, acting elections commission director general Dean Livne warned in a video statement that reports regarding the classified probe were entirely unfounded and would not alter the final results submitted to the president.
Political Fallout and Opposition Reactions
Opposition leaders sharply criticized Netanyahu’s rhetoric, accusing him of attempting to delegitimize the democratic process and demonize Arab citizens after a historic high turnout. Former military chief and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot rejected the fraud claims, arguing that Likud was manufacturing controversy solely because it lost its parliamentary edge. Mansour Abbas, head of the Arab-led Ra’am party, welcomed the investigation into electoral integrity while condemning what he described as ongoing incitement.
President Isaac Herzog urged caution during a sensitive public moment, warning against tarnishing an entire community that exercised its democratic right to vote. As coalition talks loom, political actors face difficult choices over whether to pursue cross-bloc alliances to determine the next government.