Netanyahu, at risk of losing power, steps up attacks on Israel's Arab parties
JERUSALEM, Oct 29 - Benjamin Netanyahu alleged on Thursday, without providing evidence, that Arab parties' record gains in an election this week were driven in part by voter fraud, a charge rejected by Arab leaders who accused the premier of incitement.
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who → lose → incitement
The allegation represents an escalation of anti-Arab rhetoric by Netanyahu and his far-right partners after high Arab turnout in a national ballot on Tuesday effectively blocked a smooth path to power for either him or his main Jewish rivals.
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turnout → represent → him
Israeli election officials said on Thursday that there was a probe into fraud allegations, though the election's integrity was not "systematically compromised."
Analysts and critics say that by stepping up attacks on Arab parties, Netanyahu may be trying to ensure his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, feels unable to even consider forming a minority government with Arab help that could oust him from power.
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that → say → power
Netanyahu's goal is "delegitimizing any Arab-Jewish cooperation", said Eytan Gilboa, professor of politics at Reichman University.
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Gilboa → delegitimize → University
Election officials were expected to finish tallying votes later on Thursday, in a tightly fought election that has produced no clear winner and is likely to be followed by weeks of protracted negotiations over a new government.
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that → expect → government
With nearly 93% of votes counted, Netanyahu's nationalist-religious bloc held a modest lead in seats over a bloc of right-wing and centre-left parties led by Eisenkot, with both men's coalitions short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in parliament.
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coalitions → count → parliament
Parties representing Israel's 21% Arab minority were projected to win an unprecedented 19 seats, leaving Eisenkot's bloc, with 48 seats against Netanyahu's camp of 53, with no realistic path to power without broad Arab backing, an option Eisenkot has so far ruled out.
However, Eisenkot's camp could also try to form a minority government with Arab support from the outside, without including them in a governing coalition.
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camp → represent → coalition
NETANYAHU ACCUSES ARAB PARTIES OF FRAUD; ARAB PARTIES CALL IT INCITEMENT
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PARTIES → accuse → IT
Ahmad Tibi, one of the leaders of the Arab Joint List party, said Netanyahu was on an orchestrated, toxic campaign meant to undermine the election results.
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Netanyahu → say → results
"This entire campaign is directed against Eisenkot, to prevent him, intimidate and scare him off forming a government that relies on external support from the Joint List or Ra'am," Tibi told Reuters.
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Tibi → direct → Reuters
During and after Tuesday's election, Netanyahu and his allies warned against rising Arab turnout and his right-wing Likud party issued statements accusing the Arab parties of "stealing the vote."
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party → warn → vote
It demanded police and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service investigate incidents of suspected election bribery and intimidation at ballot stations in Arab towns.
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police → demand → towns
It said it possessed evidence of such activity but has not presented it to the public.
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it → say → public
The police say they have arrested at least seven people since Tuesday in Israel's south, where many Arabs live, on suspicion of voter fraud.
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Arabs → say → fraud
Israel's public broadcaster Kan said they were suspected of attempting to bribe voters to cast ballots for the Arab-dominated party Ra'am, which has Islamist roots.
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which → say → roots
On Thursday, the head of Israel's Central Election Committee, Supreme Court jurist Noam Sohlberg, said he had asked the Shin Bet to investigate suspicions that unidentified foreign players had tried to intervene in the election.
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players → say → election
Likud seized on Sohlberg's request, alleging an attack on Israel's democracy, "an Islamisation of Israel and the toppling of the right-wing in order to bring about IDF withdrawal and defeat on all fronts, foremost Iran."
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Likud → seize → fronts
Likud said Qatar was behind the alleged election intervention, which Qatar later denied.
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Qatar → say → which
Ra'am head Mansour Abbas said on Thursday his party was not involved in the reported suspicious conduct and urged a full investigation.
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party → say → investigation
He said that Netanyahu was on an incitement campaign against Israel's Arab citizens.
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Netanyahu → say → citizens
"We have one message in response to the campaign of incitement and delegitimization he is waging against Arab citizens: Nothing will come of it, because there is nothing there," Abbas said in a statement.
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Abbas → have → statement
In a letter sent to a parliamentarian and published by the Central Election Committee, the committee said that there was "no base for claims that there was systematic harm to the election's integrity.
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committee → send → integrity
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ISRAELI PRESIDENT: 'WE MUST NOT TARNISH AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY'
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WE → tarnish → COMMUNITY
After vote tallying is completed, President Isaac Herzog will consult with party chairs and choose a candidate who he thinks has the best chance to form a government.
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he → complete → government
The coalition that last toppled Netanyahu, in 2021, relied on Abbas' Ra'am party.
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that → topple → party
But Eisenkot's underperformance means the opposition would now need backing from the Arab-dominated Joint List, which includes an explicitly anti-Zionist party.
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which → mean → party
Most Jewish leaders have shunned formal alliances with Arab parties since Israel's founding.
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leaders → shun → founding
Eisenkot called for an investigation that would protect election integrity but said Netanyahu was exploiting the suspicions to "spread chaos."
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Netanyahu → call → chaos
He said in a statement that Netanyahu's aim was to "challenge the official election results, in which the Israeli public voted against the government."
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public → say → government
Herzog said the allegations must be investigated.
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allegations → say → ?
"But even at a moment like this, we must not tarnish an entire community that sought to exercise its right to vote and take an active part in democracy," Herzog said in a statement.
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Herzog → tarnish → statement
The Aporia
