Likud Accuses Palestinian Official, Media of Election Interference

The Likud party has accused Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan, who resides in the UAE, of orchestrating foreign interference in Israeli elections. The party claims Dahlan is behind a recent story published by the newspaper Haaretz, alleging he seeks to undermine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government to gain control of Gaza. According to Likud's statement, Dahlan aims to form a weak left-wing government that could potentially withdraw from Gaza and hand it over to his control.

Likud also targeted journalist Shlomi Eldar, accusing him of publishing false news with funding from a left-wing association linked to Yair Golan's Democratic Party. The party suggested a connection between a secret visit to the UAE by Golan and Ronen Bar approximately two months ago and the Haaretz report, questioning if the visit was related to the "false publication."

In response to these allegations, the Likud party has called for a criminal investigation into Eldar, Rotem Yuval, Haaretz, Yair Golan, and the Democratic Party. Likud suspects these individuals and entities of attempting to influence the elections in collaboration with foreign actors.

The party's statement frames these accusations within a broader context of alleged foreign interference in the electoral process. Likud urged relevant authorities to examine the facts and claims presented and determine if any violations warrant criminal proceedings, noting that its statement did not include official investigation results to substantiate the accusations.