Netanyahu accuses Arab parties of "stealing the election" after casting his vote and arrests of three officials in southern Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu accused Arab parties of trying to "steal the election" after casting his vote, while three officials from an Arab party in the south were detained after envelopes of cash were found; the elections committee described the incident as localized.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Arab parties in Israel of attempting to "steal the election" after casting his vote in the legislative poll that could determine whether he remains in power.
Netanyahu's remarks came as he commented on the arrest of three prominent officials in an Arab party in the south of the country after envelopes filled with cash were found in their possession. Election authorities said the detainees had not reached polling stations and were arrested near their homes, noting the case remains under investigation.
The Central Elections Committee said the incident was "confined to a specific area," according to a report by Agence France-Presse, confirming it is a localized case that does not extend to general polling stations.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, is locked in a heated election battle against an alliance of parties seeking to end his rule, with a strong challenge from former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eizenkot, according to polls that show a close race.
More than seven million voters are eligible to take part in the vote, and preliminary data from the Central Elections Committee showed turnout in the first three hours after polling stations opened was about 17% — the highest figure recorded at that time since 1981.
