Likud readies fraud complaints over Arab polling stations, reports say
Hebrew media say party activists discussed a 'stolen election' campaign if Netanyahu loses; the elections committee says there is no evidence of widespread fraud.
Likud began preparing challenges to results from polling stations in Arab towns before voting opened on Tuesday, according to Channel 12 and Haaretz reports summarised by the Times of Israel.
Haaretz reported that party operatives discussed claiming the election had been stolen if Benjamin Netanyahu did not win, and that Netanyahu was considering the option, though not involved in the talks. Several thousand activists were reportedly sent to monitor polling sites in Arab-majority areas, a plan civil rights groups have criticised as intimidation.
“Unambiguous opinions were expressed in favor of a 'the elections were stolen and rigged' campaign”
Unnamed source close to Netanyahu, quoted by Haaretz
Dean Livne, director general of the Central Elections Committee, said there was no evidence of widespread fraud in Israeli elections and that existing safeguards were sufficient. The Movement for Quality Government opened a hotline for voters to report violations.
Reported from
- The Times of Israel27 Oct
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