Israel's Election Chief Orders Shin Bet Probe of Bribery, Foreign Interference Claims
Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg gave the security agency one week to find evidence for or against the claims, as Qatar denies involvement and opposition leader Yair Lapid says the results are not at risk.
Learn more ›JERUSALEM —
The chairman of Israel's Central Elections Committee on Thursday, Oct. 29, ordered the Shin Bet security agency to look into suspicions of vote bribery and foreign funding in the Oct. 27 Knesset election, All Israel News reported.
See where this is ›Noam Sohlberg, who chairs the committee and is deputy president of Israel's Supreme Court, told Shin Bet head David Zini to use the agency's powers to find evidence that either supports or refutes the claims. Sohlberg said he had no concrete evidence himself and added, “I cannot attest to the substance of these allegations.” He asked for findings within one week so they can be weighed before the deadline for an election appeal, saying the goal is to “ensure public trust in the electoral process.”
According to Channel 13, as cited by All Israel News, the Shin Bet is examining channels that allegedly moved money from Qatar and Turkey to groups encouraging Arab citizens to vote. On Wednesday the Likud party gave the committee material alleging vote bribery in the Arab sector, and said in a statement that the election was “stolen by Arab parties.” On Tuesday, police arrested three Arab residents of the Negev on suspicion of trying to bribe voters with cash to back the Ra'am party.
See where this is ›Israel Police rejected the broader claims on Thursday, saying there is “no investigative or intelligence evidence to support the claims” and that election day saw only a small number of unusual incidents. Arab turnout in the election was a record high, the outlet reported.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, denied any role, writing on X that “we categorically deny allegations that Qatar has interfered in Israeli elections” and calling the accusations “ridiculous and dangerous.”
Learn more ›The Shin Bet said the information behind the probe came from intelligence, not from any party or political figure, and that the inquiry is “focused and limited in scope.” It said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot and opposition leader Yair Lapid had been briefed. After meeting Zini, Lapid said there is no risk the results could be challenged, while the agency warned that an entire sector of society must not be stigmatized.
The probe comes as coalition talks continue after an election that left no clear path to a majority government.
