The Arab parties have long been kept on the political sidelines. But stunning turnout by their supporters makes the Arab minority an Israeli political reality that cannot be ignored.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s right wing Likud party accused Arab parties on Wednesday of “stealing the elections”, as vote counting showed them heading for their highest number of seats in the Knesset.
Likud said the election was “stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism and the elimination of the Jewish state”.
It claimed to have evidence of “corruption, threats, violence, fraud, and the use of banned software to induce voters to vote”, though the party did not publish that evidence in the statement.
The central election commission said about 93 per cent of regular ballots had been counted, equal to 85.6 per cent of all votes cast.
On those figures the coalition led by Netanyahu, who is now outgoing prime minister, has 53 seats, while the coalition led by Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, has 48.
The Arab parties have 19, a record, and a majority in the 120 seat parliament requires 61.
The commission said the results were not final but expected no change to the seat figures, while the remaining 7 per cent of regular ballots need further verification and will be added in the coming days.
A further 480,000 ballots cast by military personnel, police officers and diplomats are also still to be counted.
The leader of the Joint List said he was “ready to pave the way” for the overthrow of the government.
The Times of Israel reported that the opposition wants to replace Likud’s Amir Ohana as Speaker of the Knesset with the support of the Arab parties.
Disney's "Avengers" star Mark Ruffalo made a surprise appearance at Macklemore's "Free Palestine" concert weeks after the rapper was dropped as an opener from the Ed Sheeran tour for accusing Israel of committing genocide.
A banner for the Likud party and its leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, with the slogan, “The Right or Palestine.” Other candidates in the elections are to the left of it.
Eight prisoners had saved up food over several days to make the cake in hope that Tuesday's election will lead to the removal of security minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
Supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have expressed intense anxieties about isolation abroad, security at home and the future of Israel’s identity.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, speaking to supporters in the food court of a shopping mall in Holon, Israel, during a campaign visit this month.
Hundreds of Palestinian families fled their homes as the Israeli military raided Hebron. The operation came a day after Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers.
This year’s olive harvest in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is the most violent in years, as settlers have attacked farmers and besieged homes, drawing condemnation from U.S. officials and others.
Palestinians harvesting olives last week in Khirbet Abu Falah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli settlers attacked a group of Palestinians there last week, injuring several people, including an American journalist.
The Israeli military said two soldiers and two attackers had been killed, and three soldiers wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to launch a major offensive in the Israeli-occupied territory.
Mr. Eisenkot, an ex-military chief leading in the polls, calls the Israeli prime minister an “anti-leader.” But his low-key campaigning style is worrying supporters.
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