Israel is facing fresh political uncertainty after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party alleged, without presenting evidence, that parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel had manipulated the election results. The accusations have sparked sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who argue that Netanyahu is attempting to undermine the democratic outcome after suffering a major electoral setback. Centre-left leader Yair Golan accused the prime minister of launching a campaign to delegitimize Arab voters instead of accepting the verdict of the electorate, while emphasizing that any credible concerns about election integrity should be investigated through proper legal channels rather than political rhetoric.

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot also urged political parties not to use allegations of foreign interference as a reason to delay the swearing-in of Israel’s next parliament. Meanwhile, Israel’s Central Elections Committee has asked the Shin Bet security agency to examine claims of possible foreign involvement in the election, although no evidence has been publicly presented to support those allegations. Israeli police and election officials have likewise stated that they have found no investigative or intelligence-based evidence of widespread election fraud, despite continued demands from far-right leaders, including Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, for investigations into Arab political parties.

As officials continue counting absentee ballots, early projections indicate that no political bloc has secured the 61-seat majority required to form a government. Parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel are expected to make significant gains, potentially giving them a decisive role in determining who leads the country’s next government. Political analysts say the opposition could remove Netanyahu from power only if it is willing to cooperate with Arab-backed parties, a move that remains politically controversial. If coalition negotiations fail, Israel could once again face a prolonged caretaker government or even another national election, extending the country’s ongoing political instability.