Israel's election committee rejects Netanyahu fraud claims

Israel's Central Elections Committee said it found no fraud in the October 27 election, rejecting allegations promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Arab-led parties had stolen the vote.

The committee audited 9,069 polling stations after complaints were lodged and rejected the allegations on Wednesday, Dawn reported. The Associated Press reported the committee's conclusion that no fraud was found in last week's vote.

Euronews reported that Netanyahu and his supporters had repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims that Arab-led parties had "stolen" the election, possibly with foreign assistance.

Dawn reported that the Arab parties whose votes Netanyahu questioned could hold the key to removing him from power after a divisive election, and that neither he nor his rival commanded enough votes alone.

President Isaac Herzog was due to receive the official results at noon (1000 GMT), Dawn reported. His decision on who is given the first chance to form a government follows that handover, and the choice lies between Netanyahu and his rival Gadi Eisenkot.

The committee's finding removes one obstacle before those talks begin. Netanyahu's camp had pointed to the votes of Arab-led parties as the source of his loss, a claim the committee has now dismissed after its audit of polling stations across the country.

The October 27 vote left no bloc with a majority, according to Dawn, which reported that the Arab parties under attack from the prime minister could determine whether he stays in office.

The Associated Press reported the committee's finding in a headline carried by other outlets including WSLS and Audacy without further detail on the audit or the statement behind it. Dawn's account was the only one among the reports to give the number of polling stations audited and the timing of the president's receipt of the results.