Record Arab voter turnout reshapes Israel’s election, leaving both Netanyahu and his main rival short of a parliamentary majority.
Lahore Mirror – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has accused Arab-led political parties of election fraud after preliminary results showed them winning around 19 seats in the Knesset, potentially making them decisive players in forming Israel’s next government.
Likud has asked Israel’s Central Elections Committee, police and domestic security agency Shin Bet to investigate alleged electoral irregularities. The party says it is submitting hundreds of statements and pieces of evidence, citing allegations including voter intimidation, violence against polling staff, multiple voting, cash payments and suspected ballot manipulation.
However, the allegations remain unverified. According to The New York Times, electoral officials reported no widespread irregularities, despite Netanyahu’s repeated claims that Arab voters were trying to “steal the election.”
The accusations have intensified political tensions as Israel faces another potentially prolonged struggle to form a government.
Deadlock Leaves Both Blocs Short of a Majority
Preliminary results suggest Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc could secure around 53 seats, while the anti-Netanyahu opposition alliance has approximately 48. Arab-led parties could collectively win about 19 seats in the 120-member parliament.
A government needs at least 61 seats to command a parliamentary majority.
According to The Times of Israel, opposition parties have gained an advantage in the preliminary results, but Netanyahu could still remain in power because some opposition leaders have ruled out forming a coalition with Arab parties.
The election recorded turnout of more than 77%, according to BBC News. Thousands of postal ballots, including votes cast by Israeli soldiers, remained uncounted in the preliminary tally, leaving room for the final distribution of seats to change.
New York Times: Arab Parties Become Impossible to Ignore
In a report published on October 28, The New York Times, citing Aaron Boxerman’s reporting from Jerusalem, described the Arab parties’ performance as a historic political breakthrough after decades on the margins of Israeli politics.
The newspaper reported that Arab parties could win as many as 19 seats combined, compared with the 10 seats they held in the outgoing parliament. Their gains followed record turnout among Arab voters, who represent roughly 20% of Israel’s citizens.
The report said Netanyahu’s main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, faces a difficult choice. Without support from Arab lawmakers, his alliance is unlikely to reach the 61 seats needed to replace Netanyahu.
However, Eisenkot has not committed to partnering with the Arab parties, saying they do not meet his so-called 4 conditions for potential allies.
Political analysts believe the Joint List could support an opposition government from outside the governing coalition, potentially helping it survive parliamentary confidence votes without formally joining the government.
Yousef Jabareen, leader of the Joint List alliance, accused Netanyahu of inciting against Arab parties because their support could help remove him from power. He said his alliance was prepared to cooperate with opposition leaders seeking a change of government.
Netanyahu’s Son Also Challenges Arab Parties
The controversy has extended beyond the prime minister. Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, also questioned the eligibility of Arab parties, arguing that groups accused of supporting terrorism or rejecting Israel’s identity as a Jewish state should not be allowed to contest elections.
These allegations have sharpened the debate over the political rights and representation of Arab citizens, many of whom identify as both Israeli and Palestinian.
The Arab parties themselves differ in their political approaches. The United Arab List, led by Mansour Abbas, has sought cooperation with Jewish political parties to address issues affecting Arab communities. The Joint List, an alliance of three smaller parties, places greater emphasis on Palestinian rights, equality and ending Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
Abbas’s party participated in the coalition that removed Netanyahu from office in 2021, demonstrating the potential influence Arab lawmakers can exercise in government formation.
A Crucial Test for Israel’s Political System
The election has exposed a central contradiction in Israeli politics: Arab parties may hold the parliamentary numbers needed to determine the next government, yet cooperation with them remains controversial among many Jewish political leaders.
Arab citizens have also highlighted domestic concerns, including violent crime, inadequate public services and discrimination. Their increased participation suggests that these issues, alongside opposition to Netanyahu’s government, helped mobilise voters.
The final results will determine whether the opposition can overcome its internal divisions and negotiate support from Arab lawmakers—or whether Netanyahu can find another route to power despite his bloc falling short of a majority.
For now, the allegations of election fraud remain unproven, while the surge in Arab representation has emerged as one of the election’s most consequential developments.
