Israel's election committee urges probe into alleged Qatari interference

■ Steady

Israel's election count nears end with no majority for Netanyahu or the opposition

On Thursday morning Israel's Central Elections Committee asked the Shin Bet chief to investigate alleged foreign interference in the vote, including suspected funding and bribery linked to Qatar. With over 90% of ballots counted, Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats and the opposition 67, including 48 for Eisenkot's centrist bloc and 19 for Arab-majority parties. The president has urged parties to form a coalition and avoid new elections. Official results are due on November 4.

• Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset; the opposition has 67, with 19 going to Arab-majority parties.
• Most Jewish opposition parties rule out governing with Arab-led parties, and Netanyahu has called such a coalition 'a disgrace and a shame'.
• Balad's leader called the opposition's refusal to ally with Arab parties racist.
• Netanyahu will serve as caretaker prime minister with constraints, though experts say his government could keep significant powers.