Likud Accuses Arab Parties of Stealing Election and Demands Investigation

Likud says it is submitting hundreds of testimonies and pieces of evidence alleging bribery, intimidation and ballot fraud. The Central Elections Committee says it is reviewing the complaint.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party accused Arab parties on Wednesday, October 28, of stealing Israel's election through bribery, threats, violence and ballot fraud, demanding a thorough investigation by police and the Shin Bet security service.

The party said it was submitting hundreds of testimonies and pieces of evidence to those agencies and the Central Elections Committee concerning alleged offenses at numerous polling stations in Arab communities. It claimed the violations had compromised both the integrity of the vote and the election results.

The committee has confirmed receiving Likud's complaint and says it is examining the material through its election integrity review.

Cash envelopes and alleged ballot irregularities

At the center of Likud's complaint is an allegation that thousands of envelopes contained cash alongside ballot slips for Ra'am, the United Arab List led by Mansour Abbas.

The party also alleged threats and violence against polling station officials, more than one voter behind the voting screen, voting under multiple identities, and discrepancies between the number of ballot envelopes and the recorded number of voters.

In its statement, the party also accused the Arab parties involved of supporting terrorism and seeking the elimination of the Jewish state.

Three arrests in suspected vote buying case

A police investigation into suspected vote buying was already underway before Wednesday's statement. Three people from southern Israel were arrested before polling stations opened on Tuesday on suspicion of offering payments to secure votes for Ra'am.

Police said searches of the suspects' homes uncovered more than NIS 24,000, including cash prepared in envelopes. The Jerusalem Post reported that the case was transferred to Lahav 433.

Ra'am rejected allegations of wrongdoing and accused police of trying to suppress Arab turnout. Abbas separately accused Netanyahu of using false accusations against his party to mobilize right wing voters.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Central Elections Committee's acting director general described the suspected bribery case as an isolated incident. His remarks preceded Likud's broader complaint on Wednesday.

Voter data dispute adds to the complaint

Likud also alleged the use of prohibited software to mobilize voters, raising a separate dispute over how parties collected and transmitted information from polling stations.

Israel Hayom reported that Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg issued a temporary order on Tuesday evening barring representatives of Ra'am and the Joint List from reporting voter information from polling stations to their parties.

The order followed an urgent Likud petition alleging that representatives recorded voter numbers, photographed lists and relayed information outside polling stations. It was an interim measure issued before the parties' responses.

Likud demands prosecution as committee examines evidence

Likud called for police and the Shin Bet to investigate thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice. It also demanded an immediate response from the Central Elections Committee, describing the alleged offenses as "a serious blow to Israeli democracy and the voting rights of Israeli citizens."

The committee said it was examining Likud's submission as part of the review it conducts after every election, covering complaints from parties about electoral integrity and possible errors in results.