Netanyahu's Party Disputes Israeli Election Results as Majority Slips

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party have amplified claims that the country's election was "stolen" by Arab-led parties, ABC News reported. The claims come as official results show his bloc no longer holds a majority in the assembly.

PBS NewsHour, in a report by Associated Press writer Cara Anna, said results released by election officials on Thursday showed Netanyahu's bloc winning 53 seats in the 120-member assembly. The report said that figure was well below the 68 seats the bloc had controlled at its peak in the previous parliament.

Axios, in a report by Barak Ravid, said Netanyahu's far-right coalition lost 11 seats in the election and that he is trying to discredit the results by claiming there was mass voting fraud in Arab communities. The outlets measure the change against different reference points. Axios cites the 11 seats lost by the far-right coalition, while PBS NewsHour cites the 68 seats the bloc held at its peak in the previous parliament.

Axios also reported that Netanyahu appears to be trying to discourage the opposition bloc from cooperating with Arab parties to form a new government. According to the same outlet, the opposition is concerned that he has broader aims, although the summary available for this report does not describe them.

Neither ABC News, PBS NewsHour nor Axios, in the material available for this report, describes the evidence offered for the fraud claims. The available material also does not include a response from the opposition or from election officials beyond the released totals.

Sources: Axios: After losing his majority, Netanyahu tries to delegitimize election results; PBS NewsHour: Netanyahu's party claims Israeli election 'stolen' as results show him losing majority; ABC News: Netanyahu’s party claims election 'stolen' as results show him losing majority.