OCCUPIED AL-QUDS (Dispatches) -- Israel’s political system is lurching into unprecedented turmoil, with opposition leaders accusing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting a “coup” to stay in power after losing last month’s election, and the Zionist entity own attorney general rejecting the security agency’s investigations into Arab lawmakers as lacking evidence.
The so-called central elections committee confirmed Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc won 53 of the Knesset’s 120 seats—short of the 61 needed for a majority—while opposition parties took 48 and Arab-led parties a historic 19. 
It dismissed more than 1,000 fraud complaints as lacking credibility. Rather than accept the outcome, Netanyahu turned to the Shin Bet, whose chief, David Zini, launched investigations into Arab voters and political leaders over unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud, bribery and foreign interference.
Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats Party, wrote on X: “Netanyahu lost. He refuses to recognize the results, and he is trying to carry out a coup and seize power by force.” 
Former prime minister Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of seeking “to steal the elections with the help of sleeper agents of the regime in the security establishment.” Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot described an “organized attempt” to sabotage the results through incitement against elected officials and the dismantling of law enforcement agencies.
Haaretz journalist Amos Harel wrote that Netanyahu and his allies were driving Israel into “the most critical constitutional crisis in its history,” calling it a “regime coup.” Ynet’s Ronen Bergman said Israel is “in the midst of a coup attempt.” 
Haaretz reported that only one Shin Bet investigation began before election day, with the rest launched after Netanyahu’s defeat became clear. A source familiar with the inquiries told Ynet they lacked basic evidence, warning that questioning a Knesset member required more than speculation. 
A Channel 13 source said Zini was “throwing out names without evidence and echoing Likud’s talking points.” Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara rejected Zini’s request to interrogate Arab lawmakers, stating: “It is not permissible to interrogate citizens or elected officials without evidence.” 
She also accused the Shin Bet of withholding materials from investigators for two days, effectively stalling the probe—a striking rupture between the terrorist regime’s security apparatus and its top legal officer.
On Tuesday, the Shin Bet arrested Middle East Eye contributor Abd Abu Shahadeh in what it called a “security-related investigation.” Israeli media reported Zini sought the arrest and questioning of Arab leaders Ahmad Tibi, Sami Abou Shahadeh, Mansour Abbas and Ayman Odeh.
President Herzog has begun consultations and is expected to decide within days whom to task with forming a government. Analysts say the arithmetic favors Eisenkot, whose opposition bloc with Arab-led parties would command 67 seats—yet cooperation between Jewish and Arab parties faces steep obstacles. 
If no candidate can form cabinet, the illegal entity would hold new elections in early 2027.