Israeli Election Race Heats Up With Claims of Fraud and Knesset Maneuvers

As the Israeli election approaches, both the Likud party and the opposition are preparing for potential scenarios, including claims of fraud and legislative actions in the Knesset. The Likud intends to declare victory and demand the mandate to form a government, even if no clear majority of 61 seats is achieved for the "Gush Izankot" bloc. This declaration might be based on the party's own data rather than official results. The Likud campaign has prepared tweets alleging voter fraud, particularly in the Arab sector, and plans to file numerous complaints with the Election Committee. Some of these complaints could take a significant time to resolve after the election. Meanwhile, advisors to Benjamin Netanyahu are debating whether to warn about a "flood of Arabs" to the polls, a tactic used in past elections to energize right-wing voters, fearing it might instead encourage Arab voter turnout.

Conversely, the "Change Bloc" aims to pass legislation in the Knesset to alter the political landscape before another election round, potentially by securing the mandate to form a government. The party holding the mandate can appoint the chair of the Arrangements Committee, which sets the Knesset's schedule, and heads of other committees, even without forming a government. Within a three-month term, they could enact a law preventing Netanyahu from running again, assuming the High Court of Justice does not strike it down. They also could repeal Justice Minister Yariv Levin's legislative changes, establish a state commission of inquiry, and potentially pass a conscription law. Such parliamentary moves are possible even without a government being sworn in. The article also briefly touches on voting patterns in towns between Arad and Dimona and the impact of Arab parties on the election.