Israeli Officials Probe Likud Fraud Claims After Arab Parties Win 19 Seats
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 29
Israeli Officials Probe Likud Fraud Claims After Arab Parties Win 19 Seats
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 29
Summary
Election officials and Shin Bet said they are examining Likud allegations of foreign funding, bribery and ballot fraud after Arab parties won a record 19 of 120 Knesset seats.
Dean Livneh, the election commission’s acting general manager, told parliament there is no known basis for claims of systematic violations, and security officials reported no problems compromising the vote.
Shin Bet called its probe focused and limited, while unnamed security officials cited by Israeli media said at least four Palestinian Israelis were arrested on bribery suspicions but concerns about overall integrity were not significant.
Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 seats versus 48 for Gadi Eisenkot, making Arab parties central to any 61-seat coalition and turning the fraud claims into a flashpoint in coalition talks.
Nearly 80% of Arab voters and 78% of Israelis cast ballots; analysts say the dispute could both energize Netanyahu’s base and depress Arab turnout if Israel heads to another election.