---
title: "Netanyahu's party accuses Israel's Arab political forces of rigging the elections"
description: "Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has accused Israel's Arab political forces of rigging the elections and demanded an investigation amid inconclusive Knesset results."
date: 2026-10-28T23:22:38.690Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/netanyahu-party-accuses-arab-parties-of-rigging-elections
tags: [israel, netanyahu, knesset, elections, likud]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Netanyahu's party accuses Israel's Arab political forces of rigging the elections

![Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking against the background of the national flag](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/28/partiya-netanyahu-obvinila-arabskie-partii-v-falsifikatsiyah/partiya-netanyahu-obvinila-arabskie-partii-v-falsifikatsiyah-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Likud party accused Arab political forces of rigging the parliamentary elections.
- Netanyahu's right-wing bloc won 53 seats, the opposition 48, and Arab parties 19 seats.
- A coalition requires at least 61 mandates in the 120-seat Knesset.
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog plans to hold consultations with party leaders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has officially accused the country's Arab political forces of rigging the parliamentary elections and demanded a large-scale investigation. According to the political party, it possesses hundreds of testimonials and evidence of potential violations, which it plans to hand over to law enforcement agencies, the Shin Bet internal security service, and the Central Election Commission.

### Details of the accusations and the election commission's response

Likud leaders claim that Arab parties allegedly resorted to vote-buying, threats, physical violence, election fraud, and the use of prohibited software to mobilize voters. In addition, party representatives accused these political forces of supporting terrorism and seeking to destroy the Jewish state. Israel's Central Election Commission confirmed receipt of the appeal and stated it is reviewing the matter, although a commission official had previously publicly rejected allegations of fraud.

### Preliminary voting results and parliamentary deadlock

According to preliminary counts after processing 85% of the ballots, the right-wing bloc led by Benjamin Netanyahu secured 53 out of 120 seats in the Knesset. The main opposition bloc led by the Yashar party of former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot could count on 48 mandates, while the Arab parties Ra'am and the Joint List together won 19 seats. To successfully form a coalition government, either bloc must secure the support of at least 61 deputies.

### Positions of political leaders and next steps

Amid inconclusive results, opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot described the election outcome as a defeat for the incumbent prime minister and openly called on him to resign. Benjamin Netanyahu has not officially declared victory, but stressed that his coalition won a decisive majority among Jewish voters. Next week, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to begin official consultations with the leaders of all parties that entered parliament to determine the prospects of forming a cabinet and avoid a repeat election.

## Accounts differ

### Allegations of election fraud

- **Likud:** Arab parties rigged the elections, engaged in vote-buying, threats, and used prohibited software. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/netanyagu-zvinuvativ-arabski-partiyi-izrayilyu-1793229246.html))
- **Central Election Commission of Israel:** A CEC official previously rejected fraud allegations, while the commission is reviewing Likud's official appeal. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/netanyagu-zvinuvativ-arabski-partiyi-izrayilyu-1793229246.html))

*Where they agree:* The Knesset elections took place, and their preliminary results led to a political crisis.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Нетаньяху обвинил арабские партии Израиля в "краже" выборов](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/netanyagu-zvinuvativ-arabski-partiyi-izrayilyu-1793229246.html) - The primary source provides comprehensive coverage of Likud's accusations and preliminary election figures.
- [Израиль: Нетаньяху не выиграл, но оппозиция проиграла](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%B2-%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5/20261028-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C-%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%8C%D1%8F%D1%85%D1%83-%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B8%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0) - Справочный материал об итогах парламентских выборов.
- [Нетаньяху тайно летал в ОАЭ. По данным СМИ, он просил опровергнуть сведения, что его ...](https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/c51kxdy242jko) - Дополнительный контекст о политической обстановке вокруг премьера.
- [Нетаньяху обвинил оппозицию в планах cформировать правительство с арабскими партиями](https://www.aa.com.tr/ru/%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80/%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%8C%D1%8F%D1%85%D1%83-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BB-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8E-%D0%B2-%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%85-c%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D1%81-%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F%D0%BC%D0%B8/4070591) - Подтверждение риторики премьер-министра в отношении оппозиции.

## FAQ

### What did Likud accuse the Arab parties of?

The party accused Arab political forces of vote-buying, threats, violence, election fraud, and using prohibited software.

### How many seats did Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc win?

According to preliminary data after counting 85% of ballots, Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats in the Knesset.

### How many mandates are needed to form a coalition in Israel?

Forming a parliamentary majority in the Knesset requires at least 61 mandates.