Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party accused Arab parties of electoral fraud on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the party. The statement claimed that "Arab parties that support terrorism and the destruction of the Jewish state stole the elections in the State of Israel".
The statement was released a day after elections in which the Arab bloc won a record number of mandates. Netanyahu's party referred to "serious criminal offences", including "bribery, threats, violence, forgery and the use of prohibited software to mobilise voters". Likud did not provide specific evidence for its claims.
The statement noted that "hundreds of witness statements and evidence of electoral fraud at numerous Arab polling stations" had been sent to the police, intelligence services and the electoral commission. Likud believes that the integrity of the elections in Israel has been "massively compromised". The electoral commission said it would examine the submitted complaints.
Due to their strong electoral performance, Arab parties could play a key role in forming the future government, as there is no clear winner between the two main political blocs. According to current data, Netanyahu's group has 54 members of the Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot has 48 members of the Knesset. Arab parties have 19 members of the Knesset.
The Knesset has 120 members of the Knesset, so 61 are required to form a majority. Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest party in parliament. The coalition of the 77-year-old prime minister, which includes ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties, is currently far from the necessary majority.
There are difficulties in forming a government for Eisenkot as well.
