A combination picture shows Israeli political leaders Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Benjamin Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir ahead of Israel’s 2026 general election.
Israel election results LIVE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has accused Arab-led parties of “stealing” the October 27 election through alleged fraud and voter intimidation, prompting an official probe into suspected foreign interference. Qatar and the Arab parties have denied the allegations. Israel’s election remains closely contested as vote counting continues. Partial results based on around 93% of ballots show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats and the opposing Eisenkot-led bloc at 48. Arab-led parties hold a combined 19 seats….Read More
Ra’am has reportedly gained a seat, rising from seven to eight, while the Joint List has fallen from 12 to 11. The Central Elections Committee’s latest figures indicate that the Joint List remains on course to secure the disputed 19th seat under the parties’ surplus-vote agreement. Ra’am is about 1,200 votes short of claiming it, according to The Times of Israel.
Counting of ‘double envelope’ votes underway
Israel’s Central Elections Commission has begun counting ‘double envelope’ ballots, which include votes cast by IDF soldiers, prisoners, medical personnel, people with medical conditions and Israeli representatives serving abroad.
The counting of regular votes is also incomplete, with results processed from 11,712 of the 12,018 regular polling stations, covering 5,126,759 voters. The remaining stations are undergoing standard verification procedures, the commission said.
Likud makes allegations against Arab parties
Netanyahu’s Likud party alleged that Arab parties committed election fraud in Tuesday’s election and demanded investigations by the police, Shin Bet and Central Elections Committee.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Netanyahu’s account said Likud would submit hundreds of testimonies and pieces of evidence alleging irregularities at Arab polling stations, including bribery, threats, violence, forged documents and multiple voting. These remain allegations made by Likud and have not been independently verified in the statement.
The party called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those found responsible, describing the alleged acts as a threat to Israel’s democracy and the integrity of the election.
What if no leader gets enough seats to form govt?
Israel could head for another election if no political leader manages to form a government following Tuesday’s closely contested polls. Benjamin Netanyahu would remain caretaker prime minister while coalition negotiations continue.
Democrats leader Yair Golan has urged the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot to join hands with Arab parties to secure a parliamentary majority. Exit polls initially pointed to a political deadlock, with Netanyahu later projected to hold a narrow lead.
The election recorded a turnout of nearly 77.7%, with around 7.33 million Israelis eligible to vote. It was the country’s first general election since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Israel election process
Israelis vote for parties to enter the 120-seat Knesset, instead of single candidates, under a proportional representation system. A party or coalition needs to secure at least 61 seats to form a majority government.
Parties must win at least 3.25 per cent of the national vote to enter parliament. Seats are then distributed among qualifying parties according to their share of the votes.
Official counting will follow, with the final vote tally expected by October 30. The results are scheduled to be formally published on November 4. Once the final results are available, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will consult leaders of the political parties to assess which candidate has the strongest chance of forming a government. That candidate will have up to 42 days to negotiate with other parties and put together a governing coalition.
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Oct 29, 2026, 20:46:50 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Israeli Prez Isaac Herzog calls for full probe into Israel election allegations
Israel election results LIVE: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called for a full investigation into allegations of election irregularities, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable under the law.
Speaking at an event at the President’s Residence honouring the Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Small Business Loan Fund, Herzog said, “This is a sensitive moment. The integrity of our elections is a supreme democratic value. The evidence and the allegations must be fully investigated, and those responsible must be arrested and held accountable according to the full extent of the law.”
His remarks come amid a political row over alleged foreign interference in Israel’s October 27 election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has accused Arab-led parties of “stealing” the election, while Qatar, Ra’am and the Joint List have rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
Oct 29, 2026, 20:33:48 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Qatar accuses Israeli politicians of using it as ‘scapegoat’ in election row
Israel election results LIVE: Qatar has categorically denied allegations that it interfered in Israel’s elections or funded activities to influence the results. In a statement posted on X, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said, “We categorically deny allegations that Qatar has interfered in Israeli elections or funded any activities intended to influence their outcome.”
He accused Israeli politicians and media figures of launching “yet another disinformation campaign” to drag Qatar into Israel’s domestic political disputes. “These accusations are ridiculous and dangerous in equal measure,” Al Ansari said, adding that Qatar was being used as a “scapegoat for the political failures of certain Israeli politicians.”
Rejecting claims that Doha had funded efforts to influence Arab voters, Al Ansari said, “We reiterate that we have no involvement in Israel’s political or electoral competition.” He added that the allegations would not distract Qatar from its role as a mediator, its diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, or its support for the Palestinian people.
Oct 29, 2026, 20:20:45 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Ra’am says it has no link to alleged foreign election funding
Israel election results LIVE: Arab political parties in Israel have rejected allegations linking them to suspected foreign funding and interference in Tuesday’s elections.
Mansour Abbas, chairman of the United Arab List (Ra’am), welcomed the decision to investigate the allegations but said his party had no connection to the matter. He also pledged full cooperation with law enforcement authorities.
Balad chairman Sami Abou Shahadeh rejected the accusations and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies of increasing political hostility towards Arab parties and the Arab public.
The controversy began after allegations emerged that foreign entities may have tried to influence the election. Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg has directed the Shin Bet to investigate the suspicions.
No evidence linking Arab parties to the alleged foreign funding has been made public. The election panel’s acting director general has also rejected claims of widespread electoral fraud.
Oct 29, 2026, 20:11:48 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Netanyahu’s bribery and threat claims
Israel election results LIVE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has alleged that Arab parties “stole” Tuesday’s election through bribery and threats, escalating a political dispute over claims of foreign influence in the vote.
Netanyahu described the controversy as an “earthquake” and alleged that foreign entities had interfered in the elections in favour of Arab parties. He also called on Zionist parties to reject cooperation with Ra’am and the Joint List.
The allegations have not been publicly substantiated. Acting Central Elections Committee Director General Dean Livne has rejected claims of widespread fraud, saying the election was conducted lawfully and that there was no known evidence of systematic irregularities.
The election panel has asked the Shin Bet to investigate suspicions of improper foreign influence. Arab political leaders have rejected claims linking their parties to the alleged funding.
Oct 29, 2026, 19:53:54 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Shin Bet chief given a week to investigate suspected foreign election influence
Israel election results LIVE: Israel’s Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg has directed Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate allegations of foreign funding aimed at influencing Tuesday’s elections.
Sohlberg said he had received serious suspicions that foreign entities acting against Israeli interests may have tried to influence the vote through funding. He asked the Shin Bet to investigate the claims and submit its findings within a week.
In his letter, Sohlberg acknowledged that he could not confirm the substance of the allegations but said they warranted a thorough investigation.
The probe comes amid a political row over claims that foreign entities sought to boost Arab voter turnout and influence the election outcome. The allegations have not been substantiated publicly, and Arab political parties have denied any involvement in improper foreign funding.
The investigation comes as rival political blocs attempt to secure the 61 seats needed to form a government.
Oct 29, 2026, 19:40:52 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Joint List says Netanyahu’s accusations show his ‘fear’ of Arab political power
Israel election results LIVE: Israel’s Arab-led Joint List has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of making “baseless” allegations of election fraud and foreign interference out of “fear” of the Arab community’s political power. (AFP)
Oct 29, 2026, 19:16:55 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Israel election panel chief rejects fraud claims as baseless
Israel election results LIVE: Israel’s acting Central Elections Committee Director General Dean Livne has rejected allegations of widespread election fraud, saying Tuesday’s Knesset elections were conducted lawfully and there was no evidence of systematic violations.
In a letter to Yesh Atid lawmaker Vladimir Beliak, Livne said the integrity of voting at polling stations had been protected. He added that, to the best of his knowledge, there was no basis for claims of widespread irregularities.
According to The Times of Israel, Livne clarified that an inquiry requested by Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg concerned classified intelligence that required further review. The suspicions had not yet been substantiated.
The statement comes amid allegations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies that foreign entities had sought to influence the election in favour of Arab parties. The allegations have been denied by Arab political leaders and have not been publicly established.
Sohlberg has directed Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate the suspected foreign influence and submit findings within a week. (ANI)
Oct 29, 2026, 18:59:37 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Joint List accuses Netanyahu of trying to undermine Israel election results
Israel election results LIVE: Israel’s Arab-led Joint List has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to undermine the election results through what it called “baseless” allegations of fraud and foreign interference, the Times of Israel reported. The party urged opposition leaders to reject what it described as incitement against Arab voters and work with Arab parties to replace Netanyahu’s government.
“We are done apologizing and defending ourselves against filthy lies and baseless accusations from right-wing figures who refuse to accept the election results,” the party said in a statement, adding that the allegations showed how much its opponents feared the Arab community’s political strength.
The Joint List also accused Likud figures of funding a campaign to undermine Arab political participation, including attempts to disqualify Arab parties and alleged intimidation of voters. It said Arab voters had turned out in unprecedented numbers and achieved a historic result.
With Netanyahu’s bloc projected to win 53 seats, the Joint List and Ra’am have secured 19 seats combined. These could give the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot a parliamentary majority, provided the parties agree to cooperate.
“Without us, you cannot win. With us, we can build a different future,” the Joint List said, urging opposition leaders to show “political courage, not just in words but also in deeds.”
Oct 29, 2026, 18:41:10 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Yair Netanyahu alleges Qatar, Turkey spent millions to topple father
Israel election results LIVE: Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has alleged that Qatar, Turkey and other Arab countries poured millions of dollars into Israel’s elections to boost voter turnout in the Arab sector and prevent his father from leading the government.
In a post on X, translated from Hebrew, Yair described the alleged foreign involvement as “the most severe affair in the history of the State of Israel”. The allegations have not been established and are subject to
Oct 29, 2026, 18:27:04 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Qatar rejects ‘dangerous’ accusations of interference in Israeli elections
Israel election results LIVE: Qatar has rejected “dangerous” accusations that it interfered in Israel’s elections. The denial comes amid allegations by Israeli political figures that foreign countries sought to influence the vote and prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from leading the government. The claims have not yet been established through an investigation. (AFP)
Oct 29, 2026, 18:14:53 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Shin Bet chief under scrutiny over failure to flag alleged election interference
Israel election results LIVE: The Shin Bet had intelligence about possible election interference before Tuesday’s vote but did not inform the Central Elections Committee, including its chair, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, Channel 12 reported. The broadcaster said the agency’s chief, David Zini, also did not raise the concerns during a meeting between the two bodies on election day, prompting questions from unnamed legal sources about why the concerns were not flagged earlier.
During a visit to the committee’s central command centre on Tuesday, Zini said the election was proceeding smoothly. “Voter turnout is high, and we can confidently tell the citizens of Israel that the elections are being monitored and conducted in a proper and inspiring manner,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to undermine the election results.
Oct 29, 2026, 17:47:45 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Alleged Qatar election interference in Israel smaller than reported, officials say
Israel election results LIVE: Unnamed Israeli officials have said the alleged Qatari interference in the country’s elections was on a much smaller scale than media reports suggested. One source described it as a “much smaller affair than is being made out”, adding that the allegations had crossed a threshold of evidence that warranted an investigation, as per the Times of Israel.
Meanwhile, Dean Livne, director general of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, said there was “no basis for the claims of election theft”. He said the committee had received “a list of claims, not evidence” from the Likud party and others, adding that some claims were genuine while others might not be.
Oct 29, 2026, 17:33:12 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Shin Bet chief meets Netanyahu, Eisenkot over alleged election interference
Israel election results LIVE: Shin Bet chief David Zini met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to discuss an investigation into alleged foreign interference in Israel’s elections, Hebrew media reported.
The Shin Bet initiated the meeting and had begun looking into the matter before the election, according to the reports.
Zini also met Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot on Thursday morning, the party said in a statement.
“During the meeting, he was updated on the suspicions regarding foreign interference in the election in Israel. Eisenkot offered his support for the Shin Bet and law enforcement officials for a swift and transparent investigation,” the statement said.
Oct 29, 2026, 17:06:38 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of using foreign interference claims to undermine results
Israel election results LIVE: Gadi Eisenkot has called for an immediate and impartial investigation into suspected foreign interference in Israel’s affairs, while accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using unverified allegations to undermine the election results.
“I commend Netanyahu for finally condemning Qatari involvement in the State of Israel,” Eisenkot said. “Foreign involvement in the State of Israel is an unacceptable and gravely serious matter, especially when it involves a country that funds and supports the Hamas organization.”
He said such involvement was serious whether it occurred in the Prime Minister’s Office or the electoral system, and called on the Shin Bet to investigate the suspicions “impartially, thoroughly, and immediately”.
“An iron fist must be taken against anyone found to have harmed or attempted to harm the integrity of the elections,” he said.
Eisenkot also accused Netanyahu and his allies of running an “illegitimate influence operation” aimed at delaying the publication of election results and creating grounds to delegitimise the activities of the 26th Knesset.
“Netanyahu, who has grown accustomed to dealing with reality through lies, consciousness engineering, and sowing chaos, is leading, along with his partners, an illegitimate influence operation on the Israeli public,” he said.
Eisenkot argued that allegations of foreign interference should not be used to challenge the official election results before the suspicions had been investigated and their scope established.
“The attempt to exploit information (which has not yet been investigated) whose details and scope of suspicions have not yet been clarified in order to undermine the official election results—in which the Israeli public voted against the government of failure—is unacceptable and must be rejected outright,” he said.
He also stressed that decisions related to the election must be made with care and that the 26th Knesset must convene on schedule, saying that respecting voters’ choices was fundamental to Israeli democracy and national resilience.
Oct 29, 2026, 16:43:53 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Israel Police says it will act decisively on election fraud suspicions
Israel election results LIVE: Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy has pledged a thorough and impartial investigation into any allegations of election fraud, saying the force will protect the integrity of the elections and the democratic process. His statement came after the police said there was no evidence to support claims of widespread election fraud. Levy said every complaint and suspicion of an election-related offence would be examined carefully, adding that the police would act decisively to establish the truth and bring those responsible to justice.
Oct 29, 2026, 16:34:59 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Israel president urges parties to avoid another election
Israel election results LIVE: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has urged political parties to avoid another election as the country awaits final results from a closely contested vote. With both major blocs short of a majority, coalition negotiations will determine whether a new government can be formed. Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister until that process is completed.
Oct 29, 2026, 16:23:07 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Israel election row deepens as foreign interference allegations emerge
Israel election results LIVE: Israel’s ruling Likud party has alleged widespread fraud involving Arab parties, declaring that the election was “stolen”. Separately, election officials have described intelligence concerning suspected foreign interference as solid, according to Ynet. The allegations have intensified scrutiny of the vote, with the Central Elections Committee chief seeking a Shin Bet investigation into possible foreign funding and vote-buying.
Oct 29, 2026, 16:01:36 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Polls seen as referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership
Israel election results LIVE: Israel’s election was widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, the first national vote since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Despite his bloc’s projected lead, Netanyahu has fallen short of a parliamentary majority. With opposition and Arab-led parties holding significant numbers of seats, the final outcome will depend on coalition negotiations and the remaining special ballots.
Oct 29, 2026, 15:48:57 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Qatar suspected of funneling millions to influence Israel election
Israel election results LIVE: Israeli authorities are examining allegations that foreign actors attempted to influence Tuesday’s election through overseas funding and suspected vote-buying. A Ynet report cited suspicions that Qatar funnelled tens of millions to sway the vote. The allegations have prompted Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg to seek a Shin Bet investigation. The claims have not been established as fact.
Oct 29, 2026, 15:36:31 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Supreme Court judge calls for probe into suspected interference
Israel election results LIVE: Israel’s Central Elections Committee chief has asked the Shin Bet domestic security agency to investigate allegations of foreign interference in Tuesday’s parliamentary election, including suspected overseas funding and vote-buying. Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg sent an unusual letter to Shin Bet Director David Zini on Thursday, urging an investigation into whether foreign entities attempted to improperly influence the vote, Ynet reported.
Oct 29, 2026, 15:22:03 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Over 5 lakh special ballots could change poll outcome
Israel election results LIVE: More than 500,000 special “double-envelope” ballots remain to be counted in Israel’s election, potentially changing the distribution of seats in the 120-member Knesset. The ballots include votes cast by soldiers, diplomats and others voting away from their registered polling stations. Final results could be announced as early as Thursday evening, according to Al Jazeera.
Oct 29, 2026, 15:13:35 IST
Israel election results LIVE: With over 90% votes counted, Israel awaits clarity on next government
Israel election results LIVE: Israel’s election has produced no clear winner, with over 90% of votes counted and both major political blocs short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc is projected to win 53 seats, while the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot is expected to secure 48. Arab-led parties could collectively win 19 seats, potentially influencing coalition negotiations.
Oct 29, 2026, 14:58:14 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Yair Golan says Ra’am could join next Israel government
Israel election results LIVE: Democrats party leader Yair Golan has said Ra’am could join Israel’s next governing coalition, arguing that there is no reason to exclude the Arab-led party. He pointed out that Benjamin Netanyahu had previously sought to negotiate with Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas. (Al Jazeera)
Oct 29, 2026, 14:46:07 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Netanyahu’s rivals reluctant to join hands with Arab parties
Israel election results LIVE: Israel’s opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, has indicated that it wants a Zionist government and is reluctant to ally with Arab parties, Al Jazeera reported. Despite their potential to help unseat Netanyahu, Arab parties face limited options as political leaders resist cooperation.
Oct 29, 2026, 14:34:51 IST
Israel election results LIVE: Abu Shehadeh says Arab voters deserve political representation
Israel election results LIVE: “We are a legitimate elected leadership of the national minority,” Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh said, criticising the refusal of Israel’s main political blocs to work with Arab parties. He said Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up about a fifth of the population, had turned out in significant numbers to vote.
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