Arab Nations, Led by Saudi Arabia, Sought to Unite Joint List Before Election

Arab countries, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia, actively worked to unify the Arab political parties into a single "Joint List" before the recent Israeli elections, aiming to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This effort, revealed by Palestinian and Arab sources to Kan News, occurred amidst suspicions of Qatari interference in the elections. Saudi Arabia engaged in discussions with other Middle Eastern nations, including Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, to collectively support the formation of the Joint List. Riyadh believed that a unified Arab list would influence the composition of the next Israeli government, potentially leading to a more pragmatic administration, particularly concerning the Palestinian issue and tensions with Iran.

In parallel, the Chairman of the Election Committee, Judge Noam Solberg, sent an unusual letter to the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, requesting an investigation into alleged foreign bribery aimed at influencing election results. This request followed complaints from the Likud party, which accused Arab states, including Qatar, of funding campaigns to mobilize voters within the Arab community in Israel. The Shin Bet acknowledged the reports, stating that the information was not sourced from any political party and that no external entity, apart from the Election Committee chairman, had access to the intelligence before the election's conclusion. The agency emphasized that the investigation is focused and limited, and does not cast blame on the entire Arab electorate, assuring that only those who acted illegally would be prosecuted.