Our position is that even if the suspicions are substantiated, this would not undermine the integrity of the electoral process or the election results as a whole
By Njoku Vincent
Israel’s electoral authorities have moved to reassure the public about the integrity of the country’s general election, declaring that even if allegations of foreign interference are proven, they would not invalidate the overall results.
The head of the Central Elections Committee, Noam Sohlberg, made the declaration on Sunday amid growing political accusations and counter-accusations following an election that has left the country facing another parliamentary deadlock.
“Our position is that even if the suspicions are substantiated, this would not undermine the integrity of the electoral process or the election results as a whole,” Sohlberg said in a video statement.
He appeared alongside the head of Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, and the attorney general, in what appeared to be an effort to address mounting concerns over allegations of electoral interference.
The controversy erupted after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party questioned the election results, alleging without providing evidence that Arab-led parties had benefited from vote manipulation and received funding from Qatar.
The allegations followed significant gains by Arab-led political groups in Tuesday’s elections.
Qatar has strongly rejected the accusations, describing them as part of a disinformation campaign.
The exchange has further heightened political tensions, with opposition figures accusing Netanyahu’s camp of attempting to undermine the credibility of the election after failing to secure a parliamentary majority.
Main opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday accused Netanyahu of orchestrating a campaign to discredit the outcome.
He described the prime minister’s actions as an “orchestrated and organised campaign to delegitimise the results”.
The dispute has also been fuelled by the arrest of three political activists shortly before voting began on Tuesday. Police said the suspects were found carrying envelopes containing cash allegedly intended to bribe voters.
Authorities announced on Sunday that two of the three suspects had been released. One was freed under unspecified conditions, while the other was placed under house arrest. Details surrounding the third suspect were not provided.
Police said the suspects were connected to the Arab-led Ra’am party, which secured eight seats in the election.
Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas condemned the arrests, describing them as undemocratic and accusing authorities of attempting to influence the election outcome.
The allegations and subsequent denials have added another layer of uncertainty to an already complicated political landscape.
According to the election results, Netanyahu’s political bloc secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot won 48 seats.
Meanwhile, Israel’s three Arab-led parties recorded a historic breakthrough, collectively securing 19 seats.
The figures leave neither of the main political blocs with enough support to form a government independently, raising the possibility of difficult coalition negotiations.
A potential alliance between Eisenkot’s opposition camp and the Arab-led parties could command 67 seats, giving it a comfortable parliamentary majority.
However, such an arrangement remains politically sensitive, as Eisenkot has previously ruled out forming a coalition with Arab parties. The prospect of relying on their support could therefore expose divisions within his political camp.
For Netanyahu, the election dispute comes at a critical moment as he seeks to retain power amid growing pressure from opposition forces and the prospect of another prolonged political stalemate.
Despite the allegations of interference, Sohlberg’s statement signals that the electoral authorities are not prepared to treat the claims as grounds for overturning the overall outcome.
The election results are expected to be officially certified this week. Following certification, President Isaac Herzog will nominate a candidate to attempt to form the next government.
Until then, accusations of electoral interference, political manipulation and attempts to delegitimise the results are likely to remain central to Israel’s unfolding post-election crisis.