Netanyahu’s Likud Party claims election theft as Arab parties make historic gains

The Likud party said the vote was stolen, citing unverified foreign‑interference claims while Arab parties are projected to win a record 19 seats.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:02:04 GMT

Israel’s Likud party on Thursday alleged that the Oct 27 parliamentary election was stolen, accusing Arab‑led parties of foreign‑backed fraud as final results were expected to confirm Netanyahu’s bloc had lost its majority.

What happened

Preliminary exit polls on Oct 27 showed Netanyahu’s Likud bloc falling short of the 61 seats needed for a majority, with the two main Arab parties projected to win a combined 19 Knesset seats. The opposition blocs, including Gadi Eisenkot’s centrist alliance, also failed to reach a majority. In response, Likud released a statement declaring the elections “stolen” and sent hundreds of testimonies to the police, Shin Bet security agency and the Central Elections Committee, according to a post by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X.

What the reports add

Gulf News reported that Likud’s allegations intensified after Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, head of Israel’s election committee, said “serious suspicions” of foreign interference had been presented to him and referred the matter to Shin Bet, though he could not verify the claims. The outlet noted that the party’s statement linked the alleged interference to a “foreign takeover of the Knesset, the Islamization of Israel and toppling of the right‑wing government.”

The New York Post added that Netanyahu’s X post listed specific crimes – bribery, threats, violence, forgery and the use of prohibited software – allegedly occurring in Arab polling stations. It also quoted Netanyahu saying the Likud party was forwarding “hundreds of testimonies and pieces of evidence” to authorities.

What was said

Netanyahu wrote on X, “Israel’s election has been stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism and the elimination of the Jewish state,” and listed the alleged criminal activities. Gulf News quoted Justice Sohlberg’s letter to Shin Bet, stating he could not verify the foreign‑interference claims but had asked the agency to investigate because of their seriousness.

How it came about

Earlier coverage by Felo News documented the election’s tight race. On Oct 27, Felo reported that Likud was projected to win about 27 seats, while Arab parties were expected to secure around 18–19 seats, leaving Netanyahu’s bloc short of a majority (Netanyahu's Likud loses seats but remains largest party after Israeli vote). The day before, Felo highlighted a record turnout of 77.7% (Israel’s election night shows record turnout and Netanyahu’s weakest showing since 1999). A Supreme Court decision on Oct 2 lifted a ban on Arab parties, allowing them to run (Israel Supreme Court lifts ban on Arab parties), setting the stage for their historic gains.

Key facts

Netanyahu’s Likud party alleged election theft after exit polls showed Arab parties projected to win 19 seats. (gulfnews.com)
Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg said serious suspicions of foreign interference were referred to Shin Bet. (gulfnews.com)
Netanyahu posted on X that the election was stolen and listed alleged crimes such as bribery and forgery. (nypost.com)