The Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, accuses Arab factions of having “stolen” the elections in Israel

The Likud party, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused the predominantly Arab parties on Wednesday of rigging the legislative elections held the previous day in Israel. The Raam and United List factions are expected to win a combined 17 seats in the Knesset, a result considered above expectations.

Likud claims that the vote was influenced through acts of corruption, threats, violence, falsifications, and the use of prohibited computer programs to mobilize voters. The party says it sent hundreds of testimonies and pieces of evidence concerning alleged irregularities at Arab polling stations to the police, the internal security service Shin Bet, and the Central Elections Committee. The party called for a thorough investigation, the prosecution of those responsible, and the immediate intervention of the electoral authorities.

On election day, Benjamin Netanyahu stated that three Raam party officials had been arrested in the south of the country, carrying envelopes of money. The acting director of the Central Elections Committee, Dean Livneh, confirmed the arrest of people suspected of trying to buy votes, but specified that no other similar incidents had been reported nationwide.

Raam leader Mansour Abbas rejected the accusations and accused Netanyahu of lying. The Arab parties were repeatedly targeted by the prime minister during the election campaign.