Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid accused government loyalists on Tuesday of attempting to undermine the political system. He claimed they were trying to alter the election outcome through maneuvers inside the security apparatus.
"What we are seeing tonight is an attempt to destroy democracy and steal the election with the help of government loyalists inside the security establishment," Lapid wrote on the United States social media platform X.
He described the situation as a direct threat to democratic institutions and urged state bodies to resist pressure from individuals who refused to accept defeat.
The remarks followed a report by Israeli public broadcaster Kan. The report stated that Shin Bet chief David Zini had sought to question three Arab party leaders as part of an inquiry into alleged foreign interference in the vote.
Law enforcement officials ultimately found no evidence to justify questioning the three political figures, according to Kan.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara rejected an effort by Zini to treat the inquiry as a security case. Such a classification would have granted the security agency broader investigative powers, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party responded by accusing the attorney general of obstructing the inquiry.
The political clash comes immediately ahead of the scheduled release of the final election results on Wednesday.
The initial vote count gave Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats. Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc secured 48 seats, while two Arab lists won a combined 19 seats.
Neither of the two main political blocs reached the 61 seats required to form a majority government.
President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin formal consultations with party representatives on Wednesday regarding the formation of a new government, according to the Israeli daily Maariv.
