Ultra-Orthodox Parties Accuse Rivals Amid Election Bribery Probe

Ultra-Orthodox parties have sharply criticized their political rivals following a directive to investigate allegations of election bribery. The parties are pointing to what they describe as systemic hypocrisy, comparing the current investigation to the campaigns waged against them during the recent elections.

Member of Knesset Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism addressed terms used against the ultra-Orthodox public during the election period, such as the nickname "Alliance of Servants." He stated, "You are confused. You turned us, the loyal to the people of Israel and its Torah, into enemies, while on the other side, suspicions are surfacing of vote-buying with funds from enemy states. You called this the 'Alliance of Servants'? Apparently, you forgot to ask who."

Concurrently, the Shas movement issued a statement heavily criticizing the discourse leading up to the elections. "The hypocrisy is revealed! After an election campaign full of incitement and a propaganda machine against Shas and the right-wing bloc, 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 reactions come in the wake of a decision by the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, to instruct the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, to begin examining claims of foreign involvement and election bribery. In his letter, Judge Sohlberg clarified that substantiated evidence must be gathered to prove or disprove the suspicions, with initial findings to be presented within the coming week.