Israel election panel rejects Netanyahu fraud claims, confirms results

Israel's Central Elections Committee rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fraud allegations on Wednesday, confirming the October 27 election results accurately reflect voter will. President Isaac Herzog will receive official results at noon to decide whether to task Netanyahu or rival Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government. The committee audited 9,069 polling stations and found no integrity violations, dismissing Netanyahu's claims of fraud by Arab parties. Netanyahu alleged cash seizures and Qatari payments to lawmakers, while Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara refused interrogations without evidence. Eisenkot accused Likud of a "pogrom against democracy," and opposition leader Yair Lapid cited US midterm results as eliminating unity government prospects. Neither Netanyahu's bloc with 53 seats nor Eisenkot's with 48 reaches the 61-seat majority, leaving Arab parties holding 19 seats as potential kingmakers. Herzog, seeking stability after repeated deadlocks, may push for unity, but Netanyahu faces corruption charges and potential jail if he loses power. Formation attempts could last weeks or trigger new elections.