Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party declared Thursday that "the elections in Israel have been stolen," even as final results showed his bloc had lost its parliamentary majority.
The claim
Likud said, without evidence, that alleged election interference was meant to enable "a foreign takeover of the Knesset, the Islamization of Israel and toppling of the right wing government." The statement followed word from election committee chief Justice Noam Sohlberg that "serious suspicions" of foreign interference had been brought to him; he told the Shin Bet he could not verify them but asked for an investigation. Israeli media reported Likud members accusing Qatar. Qatar called the claims "ridiculous and dangerous."
The response
The election commission's acting director general, Dean Livne, said the probe, based on classified intelligence, "does not affect the final results." The commission also said "allegations of systematic violations of electoral integrity are baseless." The Shin Bet said it did not mean to "cast aspersions" on a section of the population that voted lawfully. President Isaac Herzog urged against tarnishing "an entire community."
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot said Likud was acting "because they lost." Joint List said Netanyahu "is working to steal the election," and Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas welcomed the investigation while saying his party had nothing to do with it.
The numbers
Netanyahu's bloc won 53 of 120 seats, down from 68 at its peak in the last Knesset. The opposition won 48 and Arab-led parties 19.
Why it matters
By casting doubt on the vote, Netanyahu appeared to be trying to block any alliance between his opponents and Arab parties, which he has suggested would be treasonous for Eisenkot. Results are to be certified and sent to the president next Wednesday.
Sources: PBS NewsHour, Associated Press