Likud Alleges Foreign Interference in Elections, Cites Palestinian Official

The Likud party on Wednesday demanded a criminal investigation into journalist Shlomi Eldar, the newspaper Haaretz, Yair Golan, and the Democratic Party, alleging foreign interference in Israel's elections. Likud claims Eldar's reporting is part of an effort to meddle in the upcoming vote, pointing to senior Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan, who resides in the United Arab Emirates.

According to Likud, Dahlan is behind a "false report" published by Haaretz, stating he has a political interest in replacing the current Israeli government. The party asserted that Dahlan, who has formed a joint list with Hamas for Palestinian Authority elections, desires a weak left-wing government in Israel to facilitate his takeover of the Gaza Strip. Likud suggested that such a government, led by figures like Izakovich, Yair Golan, and Liberman, would withdraw from Gaza and hand it over to Dahlan.

Likud also highlighted Eldar's alleged financial ties to a left-wing organization connected to Yair Golan's Democratic Party, claiming Eldar received payment to disseminate "falsehoods." The party questioned the timing and nature of recent visits to the UAE by Yair Golan and Ronen Bar, suggesting a possible link to the Haaretz report.

Concluding its statement, Likud called for a criminal probe into Eldar, Haaretz, Golan, and the Democratic Party for suspected election interference involving foreign actors.