Ultra-Orthodox Parties Denounce Election Funding Probe
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Yaakov Asher and Shas stated that the current suspicions of vote-buying with foreign funds reveal hypocrisy, contrasting it with criticism they faced during the election. The probe was initiated by Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg, who tasked Shin Bet head David Zini with investigating the claims.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Yaakov Asher accused opponents of mistaking loyalists for enemies while facing vote-buying suspicions.
- Shas called the allegations "hypocrisy" after facing campaign "incitement" and "propaganda."
- Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg ordered a Shin Bet investigation.
- Shin Bet head David Zini is tasked with probing undue election influence via foreign funds.
"You are mistaken," Asher stated. "You have turned us, the loyal to the people of Israel and its Torah, into enemies, while on the other side, suspicions of vote-buying with funds from enemy states are being exposed. You called this the 'alliance of servants'? Apparently, you forgot to ask who."
Shas similarly linked the election campaign's rhetoric against their party and the right-wing bloc to the current suspicions. In a statement, the movement declared, "The hypocrisy is revealed! After an election campaign full of incitement and a propaganda machine against Shas and the right-wing bloc, the lovers of the people and the land, who were falsely called the 'alliance of draft dodgers,' this morning it was revealed that precisely that 'alliance of servants' of the left and Arabs is mired in serious suspicions of vote-buying with funds from enemy states that support Hamas. Shameful!"
The sharp responses followed a directive from the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, to Shin Bet head David Zini. Sohlberg instructed Zini to investigate suspicions of undue influence on the elections through foreign funding and election bribery. In his letter, Sohlberg requested evidence to either substantiate or refute the allegations and to present any findings within the coming week.
Mentioned
