Likud's bid to delay election certification rejected by Supreme Court justice

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party moved on Monday to delay the official certification of the October 27 election results, which are scheduled for Wednesday. The party continues to assert that the vote was stolen by non-Zionist Arab parties. Noam Sohlberg, the Supreme Court justice who oversees elections, rejected the demand promptly.

The push to delay the process occurs while an investigation examines suspicions of foreign interference in the recent vote. On Sunday, the Central Elections Committee, chaired by Sohlberg, stated that even if the allegations are proven, they are not significant enough to change the outcome. The committee emphasized that the elections were conducted properly.

The core of the dispute involves claims that Qatar or other foreign powers secretly funded efforts to increase Arab voter turnout and influence the results. These allegations have not yet been substantiated. The Shin Bet and Mossad are expected to complete their probe in the near future.

Likud is reportedly considering opposing the formal approval of results by the Central Elections Committee plenum on Wednesday morning. This vote is a legal formality, as the committee is obliged to publish results within eight days. However, the consequences of a refusal have never been tested. The certified results are set to be presented to President Herzog later on Wednesday.

In a letter to Sohlberg, Likud lawyer and committee member Ilan Bombach requested an urgent meeting before certification. He argued that the seriousness of the suspicions, combined with a lack of clarity on their scope, made it impossible to publish results as if nothing had happened. According to a copy of the letter obtained by Channel 12, Bombach wanted to ensure all members were updated on the foreign interference issues.

Sohlberg responded by stating that the committee has no authority to withhold certification or intervene in the ongoing investigation. He warned that delaying publication could extend the term of the outgoing Knesset, which he said contradicts fundamental democratic precepts. He clarified that the investigation remains active despite the upcoming certification.

Opposition leaders criticized the Likud move. Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, called it a destructive campaign of delegitimization and a direct assault on Israeli democracy. He described the effort as a last resort for those who recognize the magnitude of their defeat. Yair Lapid, the number two in B’Yachad, said the bid showed Likud understands it has lost, comparing the actions to staging protests and concocting conspiracy theories.

Likud countered that the opposition was trying to prevent the truth about foreign contamination from emerging. In a separate development, Netanyahu declared Monday evening that he is open to forming a broad national government. He insisted on leading such a government and stated he would not abandon the far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties in his current coalition.

In a post on X, Netanyahu said the public does not want a government dependent on Ra’am or the Joint List. He claimed these parties support terror and reject the Jewish state. Despite Likud winning the most seats with 27, the pro-Netanyahu bloc lost its governing majority with 53 seats. The remaining 67 seats are split between Jewish-led parties with 48 and Arab-led parties with 19.

All four Zionist opposition parties have ruled out joining a government led by Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Yousef Jabareen, leader of the Joint List, told AFP that opposition members must face the political reality. He noted that the opposition cannot pass legislation without the Joint List and said he is willing to extend support for decisions that align with their program.