Netanyahu's party claims election was stolen as his bloc loses majority
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party says Arab-led parties stole Israel's election, BBC News, CBS News and AP report. Final results show his bloc lost its majority, and AP says his Likud party gave no proof. The people who run the vote say they see no sign of a broad breach, and his rivals say Netanyahu wants to cast doubt on the result.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party claims Arab-led parties stole Israel's election, BBC News, CBS News and AP report. Final results show his bloc lost its majority in parliament.
Final results give Netanyahu's bloc 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats, the main opposition bloc 48 and Arab-led parties a record 19, the outlets report. AP says the bloc had held 68 seats at its peak in the last parliament. Neither side can reach the 61 seats needed for a majority without help, the outlets report.
"The elections in Israel have been stolen!" Likud said in a statement, AP reports, adding that the party offered no evidence. The claims followed a request by the head of the election committee for the Shin Bet security agency to look into "serious suspicions" of foreign interference, BBC News and AP report. Israeli media reported that the probe includes whether Qatar funded efforts to raise Arab turnout, the outlets report. Qatar denied the claims.
The Shin Bet said its probe does not blame a whole community that voted legally, the outlets report. Dean Livne, the election committee's acting director general, said there was no basis for claims of a systematic breach, BBC News, CBS News and AP report.
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of a campaign to delegitimize the results, the outlets report. "They are doing this because they lost," he said, AP reports. Eisenkot's most likely path to power runs through the Arab-led parties, which most of his bloc had refused to partner with, the outlets report. Netanyahu remains prime minister while talks go on.
What we know: Netanyahu's bloc lost its majority, and Likud claims without evidence that the election was stolen.
What we don't: What the Shin Bet investigation will find and who will form a government.
Where outlets agree BBC News, CBS News and AP report Likud claims the election was stolen and final results show Netanyahu's bloc with 53 seats.
Where they differ Likud says Arab-led parties stole the election with foreign help. The Arab-led parties reject the claim, Qatar denies interfering, and election officials say there is no basis for claims of a systematic breach.