An Israeli opposition leader, Gadi Eisenkot, alongside Arab-led party leaders, has criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over allegations of foreign interference following an election that left his governing coalition without a parliamentary majority.
Netanyahu’s Likud Party accused Israel’s Arab parties of electoral fraud, while the domestic security agency, Shin Bet, is investigating allegations of illegal funding from Qatar and Turkey.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed the allegations as ridiculous, accusing Israeli politicians of conducting a disinformation campaign against Doha.
Final election results showed that neither Netanyahu’s political bloc nor the opposition secured the required majority in the 120-member parliament, the Knesset.
Meanwhile, the two Arab parties, Joint List and Ra’am, defied expectations by securing a record 19 seats, following a significant increase in voter turnout among Arab citizens.
