Netanyahu Camp Pushes for New Elections by Pressuring Arab Parties

Israel is moving toward one of two scenarios: a national unity government or new elections in 2027, as the political landscape grows more complex. Today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp launched a pressure campaign against the leaders of Arab parties, seeking to delegitimize any direct or indirect alliance between them and his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, by leveling unsubstantiated allegations that the Arab parties are receiving foreign funding, with the aim of removing Netanyahu from power.

The counting of double envelopes, which include votes from soldiers and other special categories such as diplomats and prisoners, did not significantly alter the results. Netanyahu’s camp retained 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s camp secured 48 seats. The two Arab lists together won 19 seats. Netanyahu’s Likud party gained an additional seat at the expense of its ally Shas, bringing its total to 27 seats, keeping it as the largest single faction in the Knesset, six seats ahead of Eisenkot’s Yesh Atid party.

Following reports that Netanyahu had cut off communications with the Change camp led by Eisenkot and was pushing for a national unity government, Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Israel Beiteinu party, which holds seven seats and was considered the most likely candidate to exit Eisenkot’s list due to his right-wing affiliation, closed the door to allying with Netanyahu as well as to any type of alliance with the Arab lists.

In a statement, Lieberman said, “We will not sit with Bibi (Netanyahu) or Tawfiq Ziad (Joint List), nor with Goldknopf or Deri (Haredi parties). We will not sit with Yaser Hujairat (United Arab List) or anyone else who supports terrorism, directly or indirectly.” He added, “The only coalition we will consider joining is one composed exclusively of Zionist parties, including Likud without Bibi.”

By doing so, Lieberman also rules out relying on Arab parties to provide support from outside the coalition, thereby narrowing the options for forming a government and, according to this stance, reinforcing the likelihood of new elections.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu, as caretaker prime minister, retains the authority to join any American strikes against Iran. Analysts say he may exploit this conflict to pressure his opponents into joining his governing coalition. Although former President Donald Trump pledged not to launch new strikes before the midterm congressional elections scheduled for November 3, negotiations to form an Israeli coalition government could extend beyond that date.

In the meantime, Conservative Judge Noam Solberg, head of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, has called on Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) Director David Barnea to investigate suspicions related to foreign funding and electoral bribery, following concerns about efforts to influence Arab voter turnout.

In a letter sent to Barnea earlier today, Solberg presented serious suspicions of illegal interference in the elections by a foreign entity suspected of acting against Israel’s interests. Solberg clarified that he could not confirm the nature of these suspicions but stressed the need for a thorough investigation to preserve the integrity of the Knesset elections and prevent any illegal activity targeting the democratic system.

On the other hand, acting Director General of the Central Elections Committee, Dan Levine, rejected rumors of electoral fraud, stating that there is no evidence that Arab parties obtained votes illegally.

Police Commissioner Daniel Levy also described the allegations as baseless propaganda, telling Haaretz that there were fewer complaints about violations compared to previous elections.

Nevertheless, Levy affirmed that every complaint related to the elections would be thoroughly and impartially investigated, adding that if any criminal activity is suspected, the police would decisively uncover the truth and hold those involved accountable.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for an investigation into allegations of fraud, but warned against stigmatizing Israel’s entire Arab community, whose members had recorded unprecedented electoral participation.

For his part, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Judge Solberg’s statements regarding the involvement of foreign entities that intervened in the elections and bribed voters in favor of Arab parties represent an unprecedented shock. This is an attack on democracy, aimed at paving the way for foreign control over the Knesset, the Islamization of Israel, and the overthrow of the right-wing government, which would lead to the weakening and defeat of the Israeli Defense Forces on all fronts of confrontation, foremost among them Iran.”

He continued: “After the exposure of attempts by foreign entities to control the Knesset, it has become clear that no Zionist party should cooperate with Ra’am and the Joint List, or change the Speaker of the Knesset using votes bought with money, or form a government that poses a threat to Israel.”

In response, Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich called for the interrogation of Arab party leaders by the Shin Bet, considering the suspicions of electoral influence through foreign Islamic funds as a “test for the State of Israel.”

For his part, Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded the arrest of Arab party leaders suspected of ties to foreign funds.

Meanwhile, Telem party leader Naftali Bennett commented: “I place my trust in Shin Bet head David Barnea and Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Solberg to exhaustively and thoroughly investigate the suspicions regarding illegal interference in the electoral process, but I do not care about the panic cries issued by Netanyahu and his mouthpieces.”

Leader of the United Arab List (Ra’am) Mansour Abbas stated that he welcomed the investigation, emphasizing that “Ra’am has absolutely no connection to the issue at hand or to any other issues, and we declare our readiness to fully cooperate with all law enforcement authorities to uncover the truth,” while criticizing the “incitement and delegitimization campaign launched by Netanyahu against Arab citizens.”

On the other hand, the spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied any interference in the Israeli elections or funding of activities aimed at influencing their results, adding: “We reject being made scapegoats for the political failures of some Israeli politicians.”