Likud Claims Election Was Stolen, Demands Investigation into Arab Parties

The Likud party has launched a sharp attack following the 26th Knesset elections, alleging that serious criminal offenses in Arab polling stations compromised the integrity of the vote and influenced its outcome. In a statement released Wednesday, the party claimed the elections were "stolen" through bribery, threats, violence, fraud, and the use of prohibited software to encourage voters. Likud announced it is submitting hundreds of testimonies and evidence to the police, Shin Bet, and the Central Elections Committee, which they claim support these suspicions. The party alleges documented instances of envelopes containing cash and Ra'am party ballots, threats and violence against polling committee members, suspicions of double voting, multiple individuals voting behind the curtain, and discrepancies between ballot counts and voter numbers. They also claim prohibited software was used to boost voter turnout. Likud is demanding a thorough investigation by the police and Shin Bet to prosecute those found responsible. Concurrently, the party is urging the Central Elections Committee to immediately address the claims and investigate any offenses that may have affected the election process. Likud's statement asserts these actions severely harmed democracy and Israeli citizens' right to vote, calling for swift and decisive action from law enforcement. As of the statement's release, these allegations are solely Likud's claims, and the statement itself does not confirm that offenses occurred or that election results were impacted. The investigation of these suspicions is pending before the relevant authorities. The Central Elections Committee responded that, as in every election, it has initiated an operation to ensure election integrity, during which all party inquiries regarding election integrity or alleged irregularities will be examined. The committee's acting director-general contacted the parties about this issue several days before the election, on October 25, 2026. The committee has received Likud's inquiry and is examining it as part of this operation.