Israeli opposition accuses Netanyahu of trying to 'delegitimise' election — SkimNews
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- Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party alleged election 'theft' by Arab-led parties, claiming foreign funding from Qatar and Turkey, prompting a Shin Bet investigation.
- The Joint List and Ra'am won a combined 19 seats in the Knesset, a record for Arab-led parties, fueled by high turnout among Arab voters opposed to Netanyahu's right-wing coalition.
- Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of running an 'orchestrated campaign' to delegitimize the election, arguing it aims to prevent Eisenkot from forming a government with Arab party support.
- Qatar's foreign ministry 'categorically' denied allegations of illegal election interference, calling the claims 'ridiculous and dangerous' and part of an Israeli disinformation campaign.
- Shin Bet and the Central Elections Committee clarified that the investigation into foreign funding does not question the legality of Arab voter participation or widespread election fraud.
Why it matters: Netanyahu’s bloc lost its majority, and the Arab parties’ 19-seat gain gives them decisive kingmaker power. With Eisenkot needing their support to govern, Netanyahu’s allegations risk undermining democratic norms to exclude a key bloc, altering coalition math and deepening political rifts.
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