Israel confirms final election results

The Central Elections Committee in Israel rejected claims of widespread fraud on Wednesday, confirming the final tally of last week's national vote. The decision strips Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition of its governing majority. This ruling follows a sharp dispute between the Prime Minister and electoral officials over the validity of the results.

The committee stated its review found no evidence that irregularities compromised the integrity of the vote. Chair Noam Sohlberg noted that while some suspicions remain under investigation, they do not justify delaying the announcement of results. The final figures were formally presented to President Isaac Herzog, who will now determine which politician attempts to build a new coalition.

Tensions rose earlier in the week when the Shin Bet security service sought to interrogate senior politicians from Palestinian-led parties. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara blocked the request, citing a lack of evidence of wrongdoing. She stated that in a country governed by the rule of law, elected officials cannot be questioned without justification. The Shin Bet chief, David Zini, had ordered the interrogations and sought to classify the matter as a security file to limit legal counsel for the politicians.

Gadi Eisenkot, the main challenger, criticized Netanyahu for what he described as a pogrom against democracy. Eisenkot accused the Prime Minister of weaponizing security forces against parties led by Palestinian citizens of Israel. He emphasized that state employees serve the nation, not the head of government. The President is expected to name Eisenkot as the candidate to form the next government, potentially as early as Thursday evening.

Eisenkot has secured public support from all Jewish Israeli opposition parties. Palestinian-led groups have indicated their priority is removing Netanyahu from power, positioning Eisenkot as the strongest contender. Herzog denounced recent racist attacks on Palestinian citizens, who turned out to vote at historic rates. He expressed respect for the Arab society in Israel and its contribution to national life.

Netanyahu promoted allegations of mass fraud and foreign interference on election day. These claims followed a campaign targeting Palestinian citizens, who make up about 20% of the population. Ahmad Tibi, a prominent Palestinian politician, joked about the timing of the allegations amidst Democratic victories in the United States. He wrote that the same method of voters arriving at polling stations was being scrutinized in both cases.