Netanyahu Accused of Coup Attempt Following Election Loss

Israeli political leaders and commentators have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting a coup following his defeat in last week's general election. The loss marked a significant shift, driven by a historic turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel who voted in large numbers.

Critics assert that the Prime Minister is leveraging the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence agency, to undermine the official results and retain his grip on power. More than a week after the initial counts showed the Netanyahu-led bloc trailing the opposition, reports indicate that Shin Bet chief David Zini is leading investigations into the Palestinian vote. These inquiries have raised allegations of voting fraud, bribery, and foreign interference, even though no concrete evidence has been made public.

The intelligence investigations coincide with a broader campaign by Netanyahu to delegitimise the Palestinian-led parties Ra'am and the Joint List. Together, these parties secured an unprecedented 19 seats in the Knesset. Opposition figures argue that this effort is primarily designed to keep the Prime Minister in office despite the electoral outcome.

Tensions escalated on Tuesday when the Shin Bet arrested Middle East Eye contributor Abd Abu Shahadeh, citing a security-related investigation. Israeli media reported that Zini also intends to question senior Palestinian political leaders, including Ahmad Tibi, Sami Abou Shahadeh, Mansour Abbas, and Ayman Odeh.

Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, warned on Wednesday that Israeli democracy was under threat. He stated that the police are detaining political activists without warrants while the Shin Bet attempts to question senior elected officials without presenting evidence. Golan accused Netanyahu of trying to carry out a coup and seize power by force.

Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid made similar accusations on Tuesday, claiming Netanyahu was attempting to crush democracy and steal the elections with the help of sleeper agents within the security establishment. This was an apparent reference to Zini, who was appointed head of the Shin Bet by Netanyahu last year. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposition bloc, described the situation as an organised attempt to sabotage Israeli democracy through incitement to violence and the dismantling of law enforcement agencies.

Journalists have also joined the criticism. Haaretz journalist Amos Harel wrote that the Prime Minister and his collaborators are driving Israel into its most critical constitutional crisis in history. He described the actions as a regime coup, citing tactics such as the use of the secret service and incitement against minorities. Moshe Gorali of Calcalist argued that the government was following a familiar protocol by using a loyal intelligence service to overturn an election.

On Wednesday, Israel's Central Elections Committee formally handed the election results to President Isaac Herzog, dismissing allegations of widespread electoral fraud. However, the Shin Bet continued its investigations. A source familiar with the inquiries told Ynet that the investigations lacked basic evidence, stating that Zini seemed unsure of his role and the law. The source noted that investigating a Knesset member requires more than speculation.

Zini, a former senior army officer and settler in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, has long had close connections to the settler movement. He was appointed last year, a move that sparked criticism over his far-right views. He has reportedly stated that while Shin Bet chiefs must act according to the law, they are first and foremost subordinate to the Prime Minister.

According to Ynet, more than 1,000 allegations of election fraud were examined, with none found to be credible. Haaretz reported that only one investigation began before voting day. The remaining inquiries, which involve Palestinian political leaders, were launched after it became clear that Netanyahu's bloc had lost. A law enforcement source told Channel 13 News that Zini was throwing out names without evidence, triggering a serious crisis of confidence in the agency. Channel 12 News reported that the inquiries are being directed by Zini's deputy, who is described as being very close to Netanyahu, despite doubts about the sufficiency of evidence for charges.