By — Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israeli-officials-say-elections-wont-be-undermined-and-suspects-in-bribery-case-are-freed Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Israeli officials say elections won't be undermined, and suspects in bribery case are freed World Nov 1, 2026 2:57 PM EST TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli police on Sunday released two of three suspects in a case of alleged voter bribery, weakening efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party to discredit last week's parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, the head of Israel's elections committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, said even if separate claims of foreign interference raised last week are substantiated, they would not undermine the elections. Likud has said without giving evidence that Arab-led parties "stole" the elections in which Netanyahu's bloc lost its majority of seats in parliament. By casting doubt on the vote, Netanyahu appears to be trying to block any potential alliance in the opposition with the Arab parties that could force him from office. WATCH: What Israel's election deadlock means for Netanyahu and the region…
Israeli officials say elections won't be undermined, and suspects in bribery case are freed
In short
Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg affirmed that ongoing Shin Bet inquiries into foreign interference will not compromise the overall election process or final outcome. The determination follows the release of two voter bribery suspects, weakening Likud's attempts to contest results that left Netanyahu's bloc with only 53 seats. With official certification scheduled for Wednesday, President Isaac Herzog will soon begin consultations to designate either Netanyahu or rival leader Gadi Eisenkot to attempt assembling a government.
Key points
- The election committee determined that substantiated foreign interference claims will not…: The election committee determined that substantiated foreign interference claims will not alter the legitimacy of the final parliamentary outcome.
- Opposition factions and Arab-led parties hold enough combined seats to theoretically form…: Opposition factions and Arab-led parties hold enough combined seats to theoretically form a new ruling coalition without Likud.
- President Isaac Herzog will choose between Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot to negoti…: President Isaac Herzog will choose between Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot to negotiate a new government once results are certified.