Likud to Appeal Election Results Citing Irregularities in Arab Sector
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Likud's legal advisor, Ilan Bombach, announced plans to appeal election results due to alleged irregularities in Arab sector polling stations, citing improper use of voter mobilization tools and potential foreign funding. Bombach claims these issues, including evidence of vote-buying and intimidation, significantly impacted the national results. He criticized the Attorney General's Office for allegedly hindering investigations into these serious suspicions, despite a judge's order to probe the matter.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Likud plans to appeal election results citing widespread irregularities in Arab sector polling stations.
- Allegations include improper use of digital tools and manual forms for voter mobilization.
- Evidence of vote-buying, multiple voting, and intimidation has also been collected.
- A Shin Bet investigation is reportedly looking into suspicions of foreign funding for election interference.
- Likud criticizes the Attorney General's Office for allegedly obstructing investigations into these claims.
The Likud party is preparing to appeal the recent election results, citing widespread irregularities in polling stations within the Arab sector. The party's legal advisor, Ilan Bombach, stated that the appeal will be filed within the next week, before the deadline of 14 days after the official publication of results.
Bombach detailed numerous allegations, including the improper use of digital applications and manual forms for voter mobilization, which he claims violated the principle of equality in elections. He asserted that while Likud and other parties refrained from using such methods, certain parties in the Arab sector allegedly did, leading to a sharp increase in voter turnout in those areas. Bombach also mentioned evidence of vote-buying, multiple voting by individuals, intimidation of election committee members, and proxy voting for individuals like the disabled.
Further complicating matters, Bombach referenced a Shin Bet investigation into suspicions of foreign funding, potentially around NIS 100 million, aimed at undermining election integrity. He criticized the Attorney General's Office for allegedly hindering the investigation, particularly regarding the questioning of Arab Knesset members like Ayman Odeh and Ahmed Tibi, suggesting a lack of seriousness in pursuing these allegations. Bombach contrasted this with perceived leniency in other cases, questioning the Attorney General's focus on suspects' rights in this instance.
Bombach has appealed to Judge Solberg to direct the Attorney General's Office to conduct a thorough investigation and cease obstructing the Shin Bet. He is also seeking findings from the Privacy Protection Authority and body camera footage from election supervisors. Bombach expressed frustration with the perceived lack of urgency, stating that instead of aggressively pursuing the investigation, there's an effort to dismiss the claims, despite Judge Solberg acknowledging serious suspicions. He emphasized that even minor disruptions affecting a few mandates warrant investigation according to the law, and the current situation suggests a systematic effort to manipulate results in the Arab sector.
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