Netanyahu's party claims Israel's election was stolen as final results show it losing its majority

Summary

Final results from Israel's election showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc losing its majority, and members of his Likud party responded by claiming the election was 'stolen'. Israeli media reported that party members were accusing Qatar, which many Israelis view as a patron of the Gaza-based militant group Hamas, of involvement. Netanyahu, facing a possible election ouster, made the contentious claim that a foreign country meddled to boost voting by Israel's Arab minority. Election officials dismissed the claim that the vote was stolen, and opposition parties accused the prime minister of trying to undermine the results after a record Arab turnout that experts described as organic and a genuine, highly visible effort to remove Netanyahu.

Timeline

1. The Hindu

   30 Oct 2026, 03:41 UTCSource ↗

   The Hindu reports that Israeli media said members of Netanyahu's party were accusing Qatar, which many Israelis view as a patron of Hamas, as final results showed the party losing its majority.

2. CBS News

   30 Oct 2026, 14:39 UTCSource ↗

   CBS News reports that Netanyahu, facing a possible election ouster, has made a contentious claim that a foreign country meddled to boost voting by Israel's Arab minority.

3. The Times of Israel

   30 Oct 2026, 19:19 UTCSource ↗

   The Times of Israel reports that election officials dismissed the claim that the vote was stolen, while opposition parties accused the prime minister of trying to undermine the results after a record Arab turnout that experts said was organic.