Israeli Police Find No Evidence to Interrogate Arab Leaders on Election Interference
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Israeli police found no evidence to interrogate Arab leaders regarding alleged foreign election interference, according to a report submitted Tuesday. The police assessment questions accusations from the Shin Bet and politicians close to Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting potential charges might be related to money laundering rather than national security. The investigation, which includes suspicions of Qatari funding, has become a political issue following the October 27 elections. The Attorney General will make the final decision on further investigation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli police found no evidence to justify interrogating Arab leaders over alleged foreign election interference.
- The police report questions accusations made by the Shin Bet and politicians supporting Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Suspicions against Ayman Odeh may relate to money laundering or election financing, not national security.
- The investigation includes allegations of Qatar transferring funds to boost Arab voter turnout.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir cited 100 million shekels in alleged Qatari funding.
- The issue became political after the October 27 elections, impacting Netanyahu's majority.
Israeli police have concluded that there is no evidence to justify interrogating Arab party leaders in connection with an investigation into alleged foreign interference in the October 27 legislative elections. A report submitted to the prosecution on Tuesday, as reported by Israeli media, casts serious doubt on accusations previously made by the Shin Bet and political figures aligned with Benjamin Netanyahu.
The police assessment indicates that no national security offenses can be attributed to the Arab leaders at this stage. Regarding Ayman Odeh, former president of the Joint Arab List, who was suspected of receiving hundreds of thousands of shekels from abroad, police are skeptical that these funds support claims of electoral interference. The most serious potential charges against him might relate to money laundering or violations of election financing rules.
These findings represent a setback for Shin Bet Director David Zini, who had sought permission to question several Arab political figures, including Mansour Abbas of Ra'am, Ahmad Tibi of Ta'al, and Sami Abu Shehadeh of Balad. Reports suggest that insufficient evidence of illegal activities was presented to warrant these interrogations. Anonymous security and police officials have criticized Zini's actions, accusing him of fueling baseless suspicions of foreign interference.
The investigation also involves allegations that Qatar transferred significant funds to Israel to encourage Arab voter turnout, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir citing an estimated 100 million shekels distributed as cash and fuel vouchers. However, investigations have not yet substantiated transfers of this magnitude.
The issue gained significant political traction after the October 27 elections, which saw high Arab voter turnout and the loss of Benjamin Netanyahu's parliamentary majority. The outgoing prime minister used the interference suspicions to claim that Arab parties had "stolen" the elections. Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party even refused to validate the results and proposed a law to dissolve the new Knesset.
The prosecution will now review the police's conclusions before submitting its assessment to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who will decide whether to proceed with further investigations.
Mentioned
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Centre 2
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
