Israeli Politicians React to Allegations of Qatari Election Bribery
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israel's Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg has ordered the Shin Bet to investigate alleged election bribery by Qatar, igniting a political firestorm. Politicians from the Likud, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Bezalel Smotrich called for the arrest and investigation of Arab party leaders involved. Gadi Eisenkot stressed safeguarding election integrity, while Avigdor Lieberman called the situation dramatic. The allegations suggest foreign interference aimed at influencing election outcomes and potentially destabilizing the government.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Central Elections Committee Chairman ordered Shin Bet to investigate alleged Qatari election bribery.
- Likud accused foreign interference of "stealing" Israeli elections and called for action.
- Minister Ben-Gvir demanded the arrest of Arab party leaders linked to Qatari funds.
- Minister Smotrich stated Israel "will not be sold to radical Islam with terror money."
- Gadi Eisenkot urged safeguarding election integrity but warned against political exploitation.
- Avigdor Lieberman called the situation a "dramatic and unprecedented event."
The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Noam Sohlberg, has instructed the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, to open an investigation into suspicions of election bribery by Qatar. This revelation has sparked a significant political uproar in Israel.
Following the report, politicians from the Netanyahu bloc and various ministers reacted strongly, calling for investigations into the heads of Arab parties, with some even demanding their arrest. The Likud party issued a statement calling the affair "Ra'am-gate" an "earthquake," alleging that "the elections in Israel were stolen." They cited Sohlberg's comments about foreign interference and bribery of voters for Arab parties as an "unprecedented shock" and an "attack on democracy" aimed at a foreign takeover of the Knesset, the Islamization of Israel, and the downfall of the right-wing government.
Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of Otzma Yehudit urged the Shin Bet to arrest the leaders of Arab parties suspected of involvement with Qatari money, as well as other suspects, including individuals from the Muslim Brotherhood. He described the situation as a "political October 27th."
Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party stated that the suspicion of foreign Islamist funding influencing the elections is a "test for the State of Israel" and demanded that the heads of Arab parties be investigated immediately, asserting that "the State of Israel will not be sold to radical Islam with terror money."
National Unity Party leader Gadi Eisenkot confirmed he was in contact with relevant parties and receiving updates, emphasizing the need to safeguard election integrity against any interference. However, he cautioned against allowing political elements to exploit the situation to influence the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, called Sohlberg's letter a "dramatic and unprecedented event" and urged law enforcement to act swiftly. Minister Miki Zohar and MK Moshe Saada also commented, with Saada noting that Sohlberg's decision to involve the Shin Bet indicated a reasonable suspicion of improper interference and a threat to election integrity by terror elements, potentially impacting election results and revealing ties between Arab political figures and hostile entities.
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