Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday of attempting to delay the announcement of election results and undermine the legitimacy of the incoming Knesset, as allegations of foreign interference intensified political tensions.
In a statement, Eisenkot alleged that Netanyahu and his political allies were conducting an “improper influence operation” intended to postpone the official results and create grounds for questioning the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament.
He also demanded a “comprehensive, immediate and impartial investigation” into allegations of foreign involvement in the electoral process.
The controversy emerged after Judge Noam Sohlberg, chairman of Israel’s election committee, reportedly wrote to Shin Bet security agency chief David Zini requesting an investigation into suspected foreign interference.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Sohlberg’s letter raised “serious suspicions” of “hostile” foreign influence allegedly intended to benefit Arab political parties in the election.
Netanyahu’s Likud party responded by urging other Zionist parties to reject cooperation with the United Arab List and the Joint List, the two Arab political groupings.
“Following the exposure of attempts by foreign entities to take over the Knesset, no Zionist party may cooperate with the United Arab List or the Joint List,” Likud said in a statement.
The allegations have not been established, and no findings confirming foreign interference have been announced.
The dispute comes as Israel faces uncertainty over the formation of its next government, with Arab parties potentially holding significant influence in a divided parliament.