Israeli opposition leader Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of seeking to delay election results

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot on Thursday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to delay the announcement of election results and undermine the legitimacy of the incoming Knesset, as complaints of foreign interference in the vote triggered a political dispute, Anadolu reports.

In a statement, Eisenkot accused Netanyahu and his allies of carrying out an “improper influence operation” aimed at delaying the results beyond their scheduled announcement and creating pretexts to delegate the work of the incoming Knesset.

He also called for a “comprehensive, immediate and impartial investigation” into suspected “foreign interference.”

The dispute followed a letter sent Thursday by Judge Noam Sohlberg, the chair of Israel’s election committee, to Shin Bet security agency chief David Zini asking him to investigate “serious suspicions” of “hostile” foreign influence on the election in favor of Arab parties, Haaretz daily reported.

Netanyahu’s Likud party seized on the request, saying no Zionist party should cooperate with the United Arab List or the Joint List, the two Arab parties.

“Following the exposure of attempts by foreign entities to take over the Knesset, no Zionist party may cooperate with the United Arab List or the Joint List,” the party said in a statement.

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Both blocs fall short of governing majority

Likud also said Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a member of the party, should not be replaced by votes “bought with money,” and that no government posing a danger to Israel should be formed.

Eisenkot said foreign interference was “unacceptable and extremely serious,” particularly when it involves a country that “funds and supports Hamas,” echoing complaints concerning Qatar.

Doha has repeatedly said its aid is directed to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and is provided with the knowledge of Israel and the UN.

Eisenkot also accused Netanyahu of responding to political developments with “lies, manipulation of public opinion, and the spread of chaos.”

With all regular ballots counted, Netanyahu’s bloc had secured 53 seats, compared to 48 for the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot, while Arab parties won a combined 19 seats.

Neither main bloc reached the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset, leaving Arab judges potentially pivotal in efforts to form a government.

The new Knesset is expected to be sworn in on Nov. 10, while the official election results are due to be announced next Wednesday.

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