Report: Palestinian Authority pushed Arab party merger to hurt Netanyahu

Israel's Channel 12 is reporting that the Palestinian Authority was a major force behind the unification of three Arab parties ahead of the country's upcoming national election, in what the network describes as an attempt to undermine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the report, the PA played a significant behind-the-scenes role in brokering the merger, seeking to consolidate Arab-Israeli voting power against Netanyahu's coalition. The claim, circulated widely on social media by accounts including Israel War Room, raises fresh questions about outside political interference in Israeli democracy ahead of the vote. Neither the Palestinian Authority nor the parties involved have publicly commented on the report. BreakFirst will continue to monitor for official responses from Jerusalem and Ramallah as the election campaign intensifies.