Israel’s opposition leaders are stepping up efforts to form an alternative government and replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following an inconclusive Knesset election, even as allegations of foreign interference trigger a political storm.
Yair Golan, chairman of Israel’s Democratic Party, met Yashar party chief Gadi Eisenkot on Thursday, reaffirming their commitment to coordinate efforts and pursue a change in government.
“Earlier today, I met with my friend Gadi Eisenkot,” Golan wrote on X. “Both of us have devoted long years to Israel’s security, and both of us understand all too well the magnitude of the responsibility now placed upon us. Saving Israel is on the line.”
Golan said the two were partners in the effort to secure a better future for Israel and expressed determination to realise what he described as a historic opportunity for change.
“I am determined to do everything required, with courage and responsibility, to realise the historic opportunity for change and to secure Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state,” he wrote, adding that he would continue to update supporters.
Earlier on Thursday, Golan met Yair Lapid, the number two in B’Yachad, as part of ongoing efforts to assemble a coalition and oust Netanyahu.
“Just came out of a good meeting with my friend, Yair Lapid,” Golan wrote on X. “I am determined to make every effort, turn over every stone, and act with all our partners to save Israel.”
He said opposition figures would continue working in coordination and would not give up on the opportunity for change.
The meetings come as the opposition bloc navigates post-election arithmetic to secure a governing majority.
Earlier in the day, Golan accused Netanyahu of refusing to accept the election outcome and attempting to undermine it through what he described as a campaign to delegitimise Arab voters.
“Netanyahu suffered a crushing democratic defeat. The public fired him, and he refuses to accept the verdict of the voters,” Golan wrote on X, accusing the prime minister of acting against the will of the public, particularly Arab Israelis.
Golan vowed to ensure that Netanyahu “vacates the (Prime Minister’s) chair”.
He said any genuine suspicion of interference with election integrity must be investigated fully, but accused Netanyahu’s office of having its own links to Qatar.
“Any genuine suspicion of damage to the integrity of the elections must be investigated to the end. And it must not be forgotten for a moment: the betrayal and the most serious Qatari involvement were carried out in Netanyahu’s office, by his closest advisor. We’re still waiting for Urich to be fired,” Golan wrote.
Golan was referring to allegations involving Yonatan Urich, a senior adviser to Netanyahu who has been barred from contacting the prime minister amid a probe into security-related offences, including the delivery of secret information and the destruction of evidence, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The allegations are linked to the “Qatargate” affair, in which Urich and other officials have been accused of receiving illicit payments from Qatari-linked sources to promote pro-Qatari messaging in Israel, according to the newspaper.
Meanwhile, Israeli Central Elections Committee Chair Justice Noam Sohlberg asked Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate allegations of foreign interference in Tuesday’s election. The Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, is probing suspicions of Qatari influence in the vote.
However, Acting Central Elections Committee Director General Dean Livne rejected allegations of widespread election fraud as baseless, insisting that the Knesset election had been conducted lawfully. According to The Times of Israel, Livne said there was no evidence of systemic irregularities.
Qatar has also denied claims that it interfered in Israel’s elections, accusing certain Israeli politicians of exploiting its name for domestic political interests and to cover up their own failures.
The controversy intensified after Netanyahu described the allegations as an “earthquake”, claiming that foreign entities had interfered in the election in favour of Arab-led parties. He called on Zionist parties to reject cooperation with Ra’am and the Joint List, while Arab political parties in Israel rejected the allegations.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for a rigorous investigation into the claims while warning against unfairly casting suspicion on the broader Arab community.
The investigation and coalition negotiations are unfolding against the backdrop of an inconclusive election, with opposition leaders seeking to coordinate their efforts to replace Netanyahu and form a government of change.