'Stop Collaborating With Lies': Joint List Slams Netanyahu Over 'Racist' Poll Probe
Israel's Joint List calls accusations of electoral fraud 'racist' and urges opposition leaders to stop collaborating with Benjamin Netanyahu's lies.
Israel's Arab political alliance, the Joint List, has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and right-wing factions, accusing them of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to delegitimize the results of Tuesday’s Knesset polls. The alliance has urged opposition leaders to cease their cooperation with what it describes as racist allegations of electoral fraud and foreign interference.
'Puppets in Netanyahu's Hands'
Taking to X, the Joint List rejected the accusations leveled against Arab parties, claiming the narrative was designed to erode their political influence following a historic electoral performance. The alliance did not mince words in its appeal to other opposition figures.
“We call on the heads of the opposition bloc to stop collaborating with Netanyahu's vile lies and the racist Kahanists, to stop being a puppet on a string in Netanyahu's hands, and to stop promoting his incitement campaign,” the alliance stated.
According to the Joint List, this campaign was not a sudden reaction but a calculated move funded by elements within the Likud party that began months ago. They asserted that the right-wing elements simply refuse to accept the election results and fear the growing power of the Arab public.
Allegations of Intimidation and 'Blood Libel'
The alliance detailed a pattern of harassment that they claim preceded and accompanied the voting process. They alleged that the right-wing campaign began with attempts to disqualify Arab parties and escalated on election day with the deployment of hundreds of armed far-right activists at polling stations.
The Joint List described the recent claims of fraud as a "blood libel," insisting that no smear campaign could erase the achievement of the Arab public or override the will of the voters who turned out in unprecedented numbers.
A Call for Political Courage
The alliance emphasized that the opposition must show genuine political bravery if they wish to defeat Netanyahu's bloc. They argued that cooperation with Arab parties is not optional but essential for forming a viable government.
“You wanted us small and weak, and you got us big and strong,” the statement read, adding that victory is impossible without their participation, but "absolutely possible" with it.
The Investigation and Official Denials
The political firestorm comes as an investigation continues into suspected foreign interference in the elections. Prime Minister Netanyahu has characterized the situation as an “earthquake,” claiming that foreign entities interfered to favor Arab parties. He has urged Zionist parties to reject any cooperation with the Joint List and the United Arab List (Ra'am).
However, official reports suggest a different story. Dean Livne, the Acting Central Elections Committee Director General, has rejected claims of widespread fraud. In a letter to Yesh Atid lawmaker Vladimir Beliak, Livne stated:
- Lawful Conduct: The Knesset elections were conducted lawfully.
- Integrity: The integrity of polling stations was rigorously safeguarded.
- Lack of Evidence: There is no basis for allegations of systematic violations of election integrity.
Livne clarified that while Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg requested an inquiry based on classified intelligence, those suspicions had not yet been substantiated. Sohlberg has directed Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate claims of improper foreign funding from entities acting against Israeli interests, with findings expected within a week.