Netanyahu bloc finishes ahead in Israel vote, but well short of majority
Summary
Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc finished ahead in Israel's general election but fell short of a majority, setting up difficult coalition talks and the possibility of another vote. Allegations of foreign funding and vote-buying involving Arab parties fueled post-election tension and denials from all sides.
Key Points
- Netanyahu's right-wing bloc won 53 seats in Israel's 120-member Knesset, short of the 61 needed to govern.
- The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats, while Arab party groupings Raam and the Joint List won 19 combined.
- Netanyahu's camp amplified allegations that Arab-Israeli groups received foreign funding to influence the vote, claims rejected by the parties involved and Qatar.
- Israel's Shin Bet and the election commission said they were looking into suspected irregularities but rejected claims of widespread fraud.
