Netanyahu Coalition Falls Short as Arab Turnout Reaches Historic High

Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition lost its parliamentary majority in Tuesday’s election, a defeat driven by a record turnout among Arab Israeli voters. The prime minister’s camp responded by alleging that foreign funds, specifically from Qatar, were used to buy votes in Palestinian communities. These claims have prompted a push by Likud allies to open an investigation through the internal security service, Shin Bet, to validate the results.

The shift in power dynamics leaves the Joint List and Ra’am, two Arab Israeli parties, holding the balance of power. They possess 19 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, a historic high for the Arab community. Netanyahu’s bloc now holds 53 seats, while the main opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot has 48. This configuration prevents either major camp from governing alone without the support of the smaller parties.

The political crisis began with the counting of votes, which confirmed the coalition’s loss after four years in power. By Wednesday night, Netanyahu had posted a Likud statement online describing the alleged violations as an attack on democracy. The statement warned that the moves aimed to lead to a foreign takeover of the Knesset and the Islamisation of Israel.

Eisenkot, the leader of the opposition bloc, accused Likud of launching a coordinated campaign to delegitimize the results. He stated that while an investigation should proceed with caution, it should not delay the swearing-in of the new Knesset, which is due to occur within 14 days of the election. Eisenkot emphasized that the process must be conducted without fear or favor.

Government officials have largely disowned the prime minister’s specific allegations. Dean Livneh, the acting director general of the central elections committee, said there appeared to be no basis for the claims. Police officials noted that voting was relatively trouble-free. President Isaac Herzog rebuked Netanyahu for tarnishing an entire community that sought to exercise its right to vote.

Qatar’s government categorically denied involvement in the elections. Majed al-Ansari, an adviser to Qatar’s prime minister, stated that the state had no part in the vote-buying or mobilization. The specific foreign funding was not detailed in Likud’s official statements but was identified in press reports as the source of the alleged money.

Critics point to a history of friction between Netanyahu and Arab representatives. Ahmad Tibi, a Joint List leader, argued that the campaign is designed to intimidate Eisenkot and prevent him from forming a government with external Arab support. Naftali Bennett, a partner in the opposition bloc, highlighted the irony of the Qatar accusation, noting that Netanyahu’s own advisers have been accused of taking Qatari money for image promotion.

In the immediate aftermath, coalition partners intensified their pressure on the Arab leadership. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the arrest of Arab party leaders, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded they be subjected to Shin Bet interrogation. These moves appear aimed at disrupting potential tactical voting alliances in the new Knesset.

Voting in Nazareth, the largest majority-Palestinian town in Israel, proceeded with few signs of irregularity. Election workers reported that some ballot packets were sent in Hebrew only, rather than the standard bilingual format. Monitors from far-right parties attempted procedural delays but were largely unsuccessful. The record turnout was attributed to anger over routine discrimination and fear of an extremist government.

The next scheduled step is the convening of the new Knesset. Leaders of the Joint List and the Zionist Change bloc have ruled out a formal coalition but are discussing tactical voting to unseat Speaker Amir Ohana. They aim to pass consensus legislation, including a commission of inquiry into the security failures of October 7, 2023, a measure Netanyahu has blocked for two years.