Qatar Denies Israeli Election Interference Claims
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Qatar has vehemently denied accusations of interfering in Israeli legislative elections, with foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari calling the claims a disinformation campaign. He stated Doha has not funded any activities to influence the vote and accused Israeli politicians and media of using Qatar as a scapegoat. The Shin Bet is investigating potential foreign interference, and the Central Elections Committee president has called for probes, though no public evidence linking Qatar has emerged.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Qatar categorically denied allegations of interfering in Israeli legislative elections.
- Spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari called the claims a disinformation campaign and a scapegoating tactic.
- Doha has not funded any activities to influence Israeli election results, according to Al-Ansari.
- The Shin Bet is investigating suspicions of foreign interference in the elections.
- The President of the Central Elections Committee called for thorough investigations into the accusations.
- No public evidence has yet linked Qatar to the alleged interference.
Qatar has categorically denied allegations of interference in Israeli legislative elections, calling them a disinformation campaign aimed at drawing the Gulf state into internal Israeli political disputes. Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on X that Doha has not funded any activities intended to influence election results. He accused some Israeli politicians and media outlets of attempting to use Qatar in the context of post-election tensions.
Al-Ansari sarcastically remarked on the accusations, noting, "We are accused of having bought Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli left, and now, in this latest campaign, the Arab vote. If these accusations are to be believed, Qatar apparently owns all of Israel." He described the claims as "as ridiculous as they are dangerous" and criticized what he called an "excessive obsession" by certain Israeli political figures and media toward his country. He urged Israeli leaders to focus on their constituents' concerns rather than seeking foreign scapegoats.
The Qatari response comes as the Shin Bet is investigating suspicions of foreign interference in Israeli elections, potentially through funding aimed at influencing votes. The President of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, has called for thorough investigations into these accusations. While several Israeli politicians have suggested Qatar's involvement, no public evidence has yet established such a link.
Al-Ansari reiterated that Qatar has no intention of meddling in Israeli politics. However, he called on the future Israeli government to respect international law, UN resolutions, and the Palestinian right to self-determination and an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the 1967 borders. He also affirmed that these accusations would not deter Qatar from its role as a mediator in regional conflicts or its diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, warning that Doha would not remain silent against attempts to exploit its name for electoral or political gain.
Mentioned
