Israel Certifies Election Amidst Raids

The Israeli government formally certified the results of its general election on Wednesday, confirming that the Joint List and the United Arab List secured a combined total of 19 seats. This is the highest number of seats ever won by parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel. The certification concludes a dispute in which right-wing factions, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, argued that the results were flawed or stolen.

Netanyahu and his political allies claimed that the surge in support for these parties did not reflect the Jewish Israeli majority. They labeled the victory as the product of illegality. Mamoun Abu Amer, a political analyst, described the subsequent police actions as a preplanned campaign to discredit the democratic process. He noted that high voter turnout in rural areas, the Negev, and Bedouin regions unsettled the political establishment.

Ahmad Tibi, leader of the Ta’al Party, stated there was no evidence of manipulation in Arab towns. He cited a report from Channel 12 television claiming the Likud party prepared a fraud file before the election because they anticipated losing. Tibi said the government’s handling of public issues had anticipated high turnout, making the claims of illegitimacy appear reactive.

Police activity intensified on election day, with several supporters of the United Arab List arrested on allegations of vote-buying. Likud used these arrests to assert an attempt to steal the election. Many suspects were released quickly after a judge found that investigators failed to justify the restrictions. Defense lawyers argued that seized funds were intended for charitable assistance. Tibi said the rapid release of detainees proved the initial claims were overstated.

The crackdown extended to media and party leaders. Journalist and political activist Abd Abu Shahadeh was detained on Tuesday night by police and the Shin Bet domestic security service. Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the Balad Party, described the detention as an attempt by Netanyahu to overturn the results. Mustafa Ibrahim, a human rights expert, linked this approach to long-standing discriminatory policies dating back to the Nakba in 1948.

Shin Bet Director David Zini requested permission to interrogate senior lawmakers, including Tibi and United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas, regarding claims of foreign interference. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara denied this request, a move that drew attacks from the Likud party. Abbas dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign and stated that his party is prepared to cooperate if the process follows proper judicial channels.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded the removal of the Attorney General, citing her past actions against him. Abu Amer viewed this demand as a strategy to avoid direct confrontation. Ibrahim noted that this pressure occurs against a backdrop where more than 190 people in Palestinian communities were killed this year in violence partly blamed on a lack of government funding.

The Palestinian-led parties plan to use their increased parliamentary presence to challenge the government. Tibi stated that the immediate practical step is to overthrow the current government politically. He added that the parties will then work to improve conditions for the community, noting that opposition parties now fear the influence of a patriotic electorate.