Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of “pogrom against democracy and the rule of law.”

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party of a “pogrom against democracy” because of their attacks on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. “In their desperation, the Likud and Netanyahu are trying to carry out a real pogrom against democracy and the rule of law,” Eisenkot explained on the online service X on Tuesday. “They are trying to plunge us all into a dangerous constitutional crisis,” he warned.

The background to this drastic choice of words is a reaction by the Likud to a statement by Baharav-Miara regarding the accusation of electoral fraud that the Netanyahu camp made against Israeli-Arab parties after the parliamentary election in Israel. Netanyahu's party accused Arab minority parties of "stealing" the parliamentary election through fraud.

Baharav-Miara reacted skeptically to these allegations. “In a constitutional state, it is not possible to investigate citizens or elected officials without having evidence to justify it,” she said through her spokeswoman on Tuesday. She called on the domestic secret service Shin Bet to provide “evidence” that would justify the initiation of an investigation.

Baharav-Miara made the comments after Israeli media reported on Tuesday evening that Shin Bet leader and Netanyahu confidant David Sini had asked to question the heads of Arab parties as part of the investigation into suspected election fraud. “Any person who needs to be questioned will be questioned,” Baharav-Miara explained, but emphasized: “But no one will be the subject of an investigation without solid evidence.”

She criticized the Shin Bet for not forwarding the investigation documents to the special investigation unit under her supervision. The Likud then accused Baharav-Miara of “obstructing the investigation.”

The two predominantly Arab lists Raam and United List performed significantly better than expected in last week's election. After counting 85 percent of all ballot papers, according to the electoral commission, they had a total of 19 of the 120 seats - a record result.

Netanyahu's camp received 53 seats in the election, the opposition alliance around Gadi Eisenkot 48. 61 seats are needed for a majority in parliament. The Arab lists could play a decisive role in forming a government.

Baharav-Miara is a vocal advocate for the independence of the judiciary. The attorney general, who also serves as an adviser to the government, has long been a thorn in Netanyahu's side. In the past, she has repeatedly been on a course of confrontation with the government. She repeatedly warned of a dismantling of democracy under Netanyahu.