Netanyahu blames Arab parties for election fraud after Likud wins 58 seats.

Benjamin Netanyahu accused Israel’s Arab parties of election fraud on Tuesday after the final vote count left his Likud‑led bloc short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. The Prime Minister said the Arab list’s surge to 13 seats was “irregular” and warned that any coalition that includes them would be “dangerous for the state.” His remarks came as the official tally placed Likud and its right‑wing allies at 58 seats, three shy of a majority, while the Joint List and United Arab List together captured a decisive share of the remaining votes.

Israel’s parliamentary system forces parties to build coalitions that command a majority of the 120‑seat Knesset. Arab parties have traditionally held a small but pivotal bloc, often becoming kingmakers when larger blocs fall short. In the 2022 election Netanyahu’s bloc secured a clear majority and excluded Arab parties, but this time the vote was far tighter. The surge in Arab representation reflects growing discontent in Israel’s Arab communities over housing, policing and the war in Gaza. Netanyahu’s accusations echo a long‑standing reluctance to work with Arab legislators, a stance that has shaped Israeli politics for decades.

The final results gave Likud 34 seats, Shas 10, United Torah Judaism 7, Religious Zionist Party 6 and Otzma Yehudit 4, totaling 61 if all stay together, but internal disputes have left the alliance at 58. The Arab parties now hold 13 seats, enough to tip the balance if they join a centrist bloc. Leaders of the United Arab List called the fraud claim “baseless” and warned it would deepen polarization. International observers said the election appeared free and fair, and legal experts said any challenge would need concrete evidence. Netanyahu is expected to begin talks with far‑right and religious partners while sidelining Arab parties, aiming to seal a coalition within the next two weeks. If negotiations stall, Israel could face another round of elections, prolonging political uncertainty and affecting security and economic policy.