Shin Bet Probes Suspected Qatari Funds to Parties
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Israel's Shin Bet is investigating suspicions that funds from Qatar were illicitly funneled to political parties as illegal donations. The probe, which began before the elections, is separate from a police investigation into cash seized from Ra'am activists. Shin Bet Director David Zinai briefed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and approached the Central Elections Committee chairman regarding the matter. The Likud party criticized the Shin Bet for not acting sooner on prior intelligence.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shin Bet is investigating suspected illicit funding from Qatar to political parties.
- The investigation is separate from a police probe into cash found with Ra'am activists.
- Shin Bet Director David Zinai briefed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the matter.
- The Central Elections Committee chairman requested evidence to confirm or deny the suspicions.
- The Likud party criticized the Shin Bet for alleged inaction on prior intelligence.
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) is investigating suspicions that funds originating from Qatar, among other sources, were illicitly funneled to political parties under the guise of legitimate donations. This separate inquiry, reported by Elinor Shirkany-Kaufman, is distinct from an ongoing police investigation into cash envelopes seized from Ra'am party activists.
Sources indicate the suspicions are reminiscent of a 2013 case involving the Balad and Zoabi parties but involve significantly larger sums and funds from Qatar. An individual familiar with the investigation stated that if the suspicions are confirmed, those involved could face lengthy prison sentences. The investigation was prompted after the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, contacted Shin Bet Director David Zinai. Sohlberg instructed Zinai to gather evidence to either substantiate or refute the suspicions, requesting findings within the week.
The separate police investigation concerns approximately 10,000 shekels in cash found in envelopes seized overnight between Monday and Tuesday. Six Ra'am activists are suspected in this case, with investigators examining whether the money was intended as election bribery. The activists claim the funds were for donations, not bribes. Shirkany-Kaufman emphasized that no proven link currently exists between the police and Shin Bet investigations.
Reporter Shirith Cohen Avitan reported that Zinai met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to present the information, an initiative by the Shin Bet due to the security implications. The Shin Bet had been examining the intelligence prior to the elections. Zinai had approached Sohlberg with the intelligence about potential foreign funding to Arab parties aimed at election interference, seeking approval to launch an investigation.
The Likud party expressed anger, claiming the Shin Bet had prior intelligence but failed to act to prevent foreign interference, a duty mandated by law to protect Israeli democracy. Meanwhile, Dean Livna, acting director general of the Central Elections Committee, stated on Tuesday that while the committee received numerous claims from Likud and other parties regarding election irregularities, they found no evidence of widespread fraud, particularly in the Arab sector, though investigations were ongoing.
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