Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot made a public accusation against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, October 29, 2026, alleging that the prime minister engaged in an election-related scheme to favor Arab parties.
Former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot has publicly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to challenge the official election results, which remain unchanged despite scrutiny of over 90 percent of the ballots. Eisenkot expressed concern that Netanyahu is attempting to exploit unverified information to undermine the integrity of the election process.
Yair Golan, the leader of Israel's main centre-left party, the Democratic faction, has stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu has suffered a significant democratic setback. According to Golan, citizens have effectively dismissed Netanyahu and he is refusing to acknowledge the outcome of the election.
The Israeli government is attempting to undermine the legitimacy of the election results through a campaign that seeks to delegitimize the will of the public, particularly that of the Arab population.
A key ally of former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, Golan, made history by becoming the first opposition member to publicly support a potential alliance with Arab parties, thereby bridging the gap between Jewish and Arab voters.
The President of the Israeli Central Electoral Commission, Judge Noam Sohlberg, has submitted a letter to David Zini, head of the Shin Bet, requesting an investigation into allegations of foreign interference in the country's recent parliamentary elections, which took place on October 27, 2026.
Sohlberb expressed skepticism regarding the basis of the suspicions but acknowledged a duty to thoroughly investigate the matter, particularly given its potential foreign implications.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that allegations have surfaced, suggesting that funding from Qatar was provided with the intention of boosting voter turnout among Israeli Arab communities in recent elections.
Elections must be conducted in a manner that guarantees their integrity, free from coercion, undue influence, and corruption. This ensures that voters exercise their right to vote independently, based on their own criteria and without external influence.
The CEC president requested Zini to thoroughly investigate and present any findings related to the matter within the next week.
On Tuesday, Zini reported that the election process was proceeding smoothly, with high voter turnout, and emphasized that the elections were being closely monitored and conducted in a manner that met all necessary standards.
The Likud party claims to have submitted extensive documentation, including hundreds of testimonies and evidence, to the security services and the Central Election Committee. The party alleges irregularities in the election process, citing thousands of instances of excessive campaign spending. According to the Likud's account, these irregularities involved the use of cash and campaign materials from the Raam party, which is expected to secure 8 seats in the upcoming election, based on the latest scrutiny data.
The Israeli police have refuted allegations made by the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, that Arab parties were attempting to manipulate the electoral process.
A police source has stated that there is no evidence to support claims of election irregularities, noting that the election day proceeded with minimal incidents that compromised the integrity of the process, even in comparison to previous elections.
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rml (efe, ap and Haaretz)
