Shin Bet Preliminary Findings on Qatar Election Interference to Be Presented Next Week
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
The Shin Bet's preliminary findings on alleged Qatari interference in Israeli elections will be presented to the Central Elections Committee president next week. The investigation, which has involved the Mossad, has so far found no evidence to impact election results. The Likud party has accused Arab parties of "stealing" the election, allegations that Arab parties and Qatar deny. Official election results are expected Wednesday, with Netanyahu's bloc winning a majority.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Shin Bet preliminary findings on alleged Qatari election interference will be presented next week.
- The Shin Bet has requested Mossad assistance in its investigation into foreign interference.
- No evidence has been found so far to affect the Knesset election results.
- The Likud party accused Arab parties of "stealing" the election through criminal offenses.
- Arab parties and Qatar have denied allegations of election interference and fraud.
- Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats, while the opposition won 48 seats in the Knesset elections.
Preliminary findings from the Shin Bet's investigation into alleged foreign interference by Qatar in Israeli elections are expected to be presented to the President of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, early next week. The Shin Bet has also requested assistance from the Mossad to continue the investigation. According to Israeli Public Broadcasting (Kan 11), sources indicated that nothing has been found so far that would affect the Knesset election results. Meanwhile, the office of Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog is preparing to receive the official election results on Wednesday and begin recommendation meetings with party leaders. The Likud party anticipates "significant steps will be taken as a result of the investigation." Eight days before the election, a representative from military intelligence's Aman unit claimed they were monitoring an attempt by Qatar to transfer funds to encourage voters and conduct online activities. A Shin Bet representative, responding to Knesset members' questions in a subcommittee session, stated there was no information about direct bribery payments from a foreign state for votes. Judge Sohlberg's request to the Shin Bet head, David Zini, to investigate allegations of electoral bribery by external parties, including Qatar, has sparked widespread Israeli skepticism towards Arab parties and their leaders, as well as a denial from Doha. The vote counting for the Knesset elections concluded Thursday evening, with Arab parties securing 19 seats (the Joint List with 11 and the United Arab List with 8). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats, while the opposition bloc secured 48. The Likud party had previously accused Arab parties of "stealing the Knesset elections" on Wednesday, demanding a thorough investigation by the police and Shin Bet. A Likud statement alleged that "elections in Israel were stolen by Arab parties that support the elimination of the Jewish state, through the commission of serious criminal offenses, including bribery, threats, violence, fraud, and the use of prohibited software to encourage voters."
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