Netanyahu accuses Arab parties of trying to ‘steal’ Israeli election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Arab parties of trying to “steal” the country’s election, after three men were arrested on suspicion of attempting to bribe voters to support the Arab party Ra’am.

Speaking after casting his ballot in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Netanyahu said the police will hunt down everybody involved.

Police said the three men, from Bedouin communities in southern Israel, were suspected of involvement in a scheme to distribute cash to voters. The case remains under investigation, and the allegations have not been proven.

Ra’am has rejected the arrests as politically motivated, alleging that the party is being targeted in an attempt to suppress Arab voter turnout. The party has also reported problems with the availability of ballot papers in Arab communities.

Netanyahu has repeatedly sought to mobilise his right-wing supporters by warning about Arab political participation. 

He additionally described Palestinians in Israel as being “Muslim Brotherhood supporters” and accused them of “raiding the polling stations and stealing the elections” in posts on X.

Arab parties could play a decisive role in determining whether Netanyahu’s bloc can secure a parliamentary majority.