WorldPosted at: Nov 4 2026 6:42PM


Israeli election chief warns against questioning results, says it poses ‘real danger’ to democracy

Jerusalem, Nov 4 (UNI) Israel's election chief on Wednesday warned that casting doubt on the integrity of the October 27 parliamentary elections posed a "real danger" to democracy, as President Isaac Herzog received the final results amid political uncertainty and an investigation into alleged foreign interference and vote-buying.
The election results have left neither the bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the opposition with the 61 seats required to form a government in the 120-member Knesset, setting the stage for potentially difficult coalition negotiations.
The ruling bloc secured 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48. Two lists representing Palestinian citizens of Israel secured a combined 19 seats, giving them a potentially significant role in determining the next government.The new Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10, while coalition negotiations are expected to determine whether a government can be formed or Israel will face another election.
Central Elections Committee chairman Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg presented the results to Herzog at a ceremony in Jerusalem, stressing that allegations of electoral interference were still under investigation but did not justify withholding the results.
"In recent days, we have heard voices trying to cast doubt on the election results and undermine their legitimacy. This is a real danger," Sohlberg said.
"One of the foundations of democracy is the ability to have a peaceful transfer of power. This stems from the understanding that the will of the electorate obligates us all," he added.
Sohlberg said the suspicions of electoral irregularities, even if established, were unlikely to have affected the overall outcome of the election. He said the results had to be published in accordance with the law and that any subsequent evidence could be addressed through the prescribed legal process, the Times of Israel reported.
Herzog, meanwhile, denounced what he described as "coarse and racist" rhetoric directed at Israel's Arab community, calling for respect for all citizens and their democratic right to participate in elections.
The election has seen a significant increase in representation for Palestinian citizens of Israel, with the Joint List winning 11 seats and the Arab-led Ra'am party securing eight.
The results leave Netanyahu's bloc eight seats short of a parliamentary majority, while the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot needs support from other parties to reach the 61-seat threshold. The combined 19 seats held by the Arab-led parties could therefore prove decisive in the government formation process.
The Times of Israel 1
The controversy surrounding allegations of vote-buying and possible foreign interference has continued to overshadow the election aftermath.
In a separate development, the Beersheba Magistrate's Court ordered the unconditional release of Ibrahim al-Garibi, the last of three Bedouin men arrested on election day over allegations that they were involved in buying votes for the Arab-led Ra'am party.
Judge Eran Tzabari rejected a police request to place Garibi under house arrest and restrict his internet access, criticising investigators for failing to make progress in the case.
"The investigating unit has made no progress in the case, nor have I heard of any actual efforts to check the defendant's own claim," the judge said.
Police had alleged that envelopes containing tens of thousands of shekels were found at the suspects' homes. However, the defence disputed the allegations, saying no money was found at one residence and that the cash recovered from the others was intended for charity.
Meanwhile, Shin Bet chief David Zini reportedly assured Sohlberg that the investigation into suspected foreign interference would follow the instructions of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.
"I won't move an inch from what the attorney general has instructed me to do. I won't let the country go up in flames," Zini was quoted as saying by Channel 12.
The attorney general's office has said that citizens and elected officials cannot be questioned without evidence justifying such action.
Opposition lawmaker Ofer Cassif of the Joint List, meanwhile, said opposition parties needed to overcome their differences and work together to end Netanyahu's rule.
"I hope and believe that Mr Eisenkot will eventually understand that the greatest danger to Israelis and the region is Netanyahu himself and his fascist allies," Cassif told Anadolu Agency.
"Netanyahu and his team are the biggest enemy and the biggest risk for Israel, the Palestinians, the region, and even the wider geography," he said.
Cassif said the reluctance of some opposition parties to cooperate with Palestinian representatives had complicated efforts to form an alternative government.
He also accused Netanyahu and far-right politicians of attempting to discredit the election results by targeting Arab voters with unsubstantiated allegations of fraud.
The opposition has indicated that it would seek to recommend Eisenkot to Herzog to form the next government, although differences within the bloc and resistance to cooperation with Arab parties could complicate the process.UNI AAB
Tags: #Israeli election chief warns against questioning results# says it poses ‘real danger’ to democracy
More News

Israeli election chief warns against questioning results, says it poses ‘real danger’ to democracy

04 Nov 2026 | 6:42 PM

Jerusalem, Nov 4 (UNI) Israel's election chief on Wednesday warned that casting doubt on the integrity of the October 27 parliamentary elections posed a "real danger" to democracy, as President Isaac Herzog received the final results amid political uncertainty and an investigation into alleged foreign interference and vote-buying.

see more..

Khamenei warns of wider regional response if US resumes attacks on Iran

04 Nov 2026 | 6:13 PM

Tehran, Nov 4 (UNI) Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Wednesday warned that any renewed US military attack on Iran would trigger a much wider regional response, asserting that those expecting a change in Washington's policy following political developments in the United States were "seriously mistaken".

see more..

Obama says US voters sent 'clear message' as Democrats celebrate historic midterm victories

04 Nov 2026 | 5:30 PM

Washington, Nov 4 (UNI) Former US President Barack Obama on Wednesday said American voters have sent a "clear message" through the midterm elections, calling on Democrats to build on their victories by bringing people together and offering practical solutions to the challenges facing the country.

see more..

US midterm losses for Republicans could reshape Washington-Israel ties: report

04 Nov 2026 | 4:37 PM

Tel Aviv, Nov 4 (UNI) Republicans losing their congressional majority in the US midterm elections could change the relationship between Israel and the United States, the Jerusalem Post said in an analysis published on Wednesday.

see more..

Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, become first Muslim American senator

04 Nov 2026 | 4:17 PM

Washington, Nov 4 (UNI) Egyptian-American Democrat and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed made history on Wednesday, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the US Senate after defeating Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race. His victory also marks him as the first Democratic physician to serve in the Senate since 1969.

see more..