Israel's Election Commission Probes Likud's Fraud Claims Against Arab Parties
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has accused Arab political parties of electoral fraud and "stealing" the election, submitting evidence to Israeli authorities. The Central Election Commission is investigating the claims as part of its routine post-election review. Partial results from the October 27 legislative elections show a divided Knesset, with neither major bloc nearing the 61-seat majority required to govern.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The Likud party accused Arab parties of electoral fraud and "stealing" the election.
- Hundreds of testimonies and evidence were submitted to Israeli police, Shin Bet, and the Election Commission.
- Alleged irregularities include voter intimidation, ballot discrepancies, and illegal software use.
- Israel's Central Election Commission is examining the Likud's fraud allegations.
- Partial election results indicate a deeply divided Knesset with no clear majority.
- Arab parties are projected to win 19 seats in the upcoming Knesset.
Israel's Central Election Commission is investigating allegations of electoral fraud lodged by Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party against Arab political parties. On Wednesday, Likud claimed "serious irregularities" occurred in several Arab polling stations, asserting that the elections were "stolen" by Arab parties it accuses of supporting terrorism. The party stated it has provided hundreds of testimonies and evidence to the police, Shin Bet, and the Election Commission. These alleged irregularities include cash-filled envelopes with Ra'am party ballots, voter intimidation, identity theft, discrepancies in ballot counts, and the use of illegal software for voter mobilization.
Likud is demanding a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible, calling the alleged actions "a grave blow to Israeli democracy." The Central Election Commission confirmed it is examining these accusations as part of its standard post-election review process, emphasizing that such reviews are routine and not exceptional. The commission's interim director-general had informed all party lists about this procedure on October 25, two days before the vote.
The accusations surface as partial results from the October 27 legislative elections indicate a deeply divided Knesset. With approximately 85% of ballots counted, Netanyahu's bloc is projected to win 53 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot's bloc is expected to secure 48 seats. Arab parties are projected to win 19 seats. Neither major bloc is on track to reach the 61-seat majority needed to form a government alone.
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