Israeli President Accepts Election Results, Undermining Netanyahu's Fraud Claims

Israeli President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results of last week's parliamentary elections as legally binding, undermining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unsubstantiated claims of vote fraud. The move initiates consultations on forming a new government after Netanyahu's religious-nationalist bloc lost its Knesset majority. Israel's election commission found no evidence of irregularities affecting the results, though a Shin Bet probe into alleged foreign interference continues. Herzog will meet party leaders to select a prime minister-designate, likely Netanyahu or rival Gadi Eisenkot, with neither bloc securing a majority. The Shin Bet's request to interrogate Arab lawmakers was rejected by the attorney general, who cited a lack of evidence. Far-right ally Itamar Ben-Gvir disputed the findings, while Herzog condemned racist expressions and urged against smearing Arab Israeli voters.