Israel’s Central Elections Committee finalized results on Wednesday from a recent election that removed Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition from its governing majority. The commission rejected allegations of widespread fraud and foreign interference, stating in an official announcement that its review found no evidence of irregularities affecting the election’s integrity or outcome.
Netanyahu had promoted unsubstantiated fraud claims following the vote, prompting criticism from rival candidate Gadi Eisenkot, who characterized the premier’s actions as an attack on democratic institutions. The attorney general blocked a request from the Shin Bet security service to interrogate senior politicians from Palestinian-led parties, citing the absence of evidence to justify such interrogations. According to the attorney general’s statement, detention of any individual in a law-governed state requires evidentiary support.
President Isaac Herzog received the finalized results and condemned recent racist attacks against Palestinian citizens who participated in the election at elevated rates. He expressed respect for Arab society in Israel and its contributions to the nation. Herzog is expected to designate Eisenkot, a former military leader and son of a casualty from the Gaza conflict, as the first politician to attempt government formation, potentially as soon as Thursday evening.
Eisenkot, who has secured backing from major Jewish Israeli opposition parties, warned that attempts to undermine confidence in the election results would likely persist. He criticized what he characterized as the weaponization of security services for political ends. Both major Palestinian political groupings indicated they would support Eisenkot’s coalition-building efforts, prioritizing the removal of Netanyahu from power. Coalition negotiations are anticipated to extend over multiple weeks.
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