Likud Alleges "Election Theft" in Arab Voting Centers, Demands Investigation

The Likud party announced on Wednesday its intention to submit "hundreds of testimonies and evidence of election theft in numerous Arab ballot boxes" to the Israeli Police and Shin Bet. This action comes in response to the unprecedented number of parliamentary seats secured by Arab parties in the recent elections. According to a Likud statement, the party possesses evidence of thousands of envelopes containing cash and ballots for the United Arab List party, alongside claims of threats and violence against election committee members, multiple voters behind the curtain, voting with dual identities, and the use of prohibited incentive programs. The party also cited discrepancies between the number of ballot envelopes and the number of voters in several Arab village polling stations. Consequently, Likud is demanding that the police and Shin Bet launch an investigation into alleged "election theft by Arab parties" and hold those responsible accountable. They also seek a response from the Central Elections Committee regarding the investigation.

However, police data presents a different picture, with only 48 complaints nationwide concerning fraud and impersonation filed by Tuesday evening, a decrease of approximately 40% compared to nearly 80 in the previous election. Police clarified that there is no investigative or intelligence support for Likud's claims. A police statement indicated that election day passed with few exceptional incidents regarding integrity, even compared to prior elections, and confirmed no investigative or intelligence backing for the allegations. Likud, in its statement, asserted that "elections in the State of Israel were stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism and call for the elimination of the Jewish state, through serious criminal offenses such as bribery, threats, violence, and fraud." The party further stated, "This is a serious assault on Israeli democracy and the right to vote for Israeli citizens, and law enforcement agencies must act decisively and immediately."

Following the initial exit poll results on election night, a senior Likud official reportedly mocked Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, thanking him for his "excellent work that led to an unprecedented influx of Arabs to the ballot boxes."