Qatar Denies Allegations of Election Interference in Israel

Qatar has vehemently denied accusations of interfering in Israel's recent elections, following a report by N12 alleging potential bribery by Doha. The spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari, stated on X that Qatar "rejects in their entirety the claims that Qatar interfered in the elections in Israel or funded any activity aimed at influencing their outcomes." He further characterized the accusations, reportedly made by certain Israeli politicians and their associates, as a disinformation campaign aimed at drawing Qatar into Israel's internal political disputes.

Al-Ansari dismissed the allegations as "ridiculous and dangerous," suggesting they reflect an "excessive obsession" with Qatar among some Israeli political and media figures. He urged Israeli politicians to focus on their constituents and domestic issues rather than using Qatar as a scapegoat for their political failures. He also emphasized that Qatar has no involvement in Israel's internal affairs and will not be drawn into its political conflicts.

In response to the N12 report, the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Na'am Solberg, instructed the head of the Shin Bet to open an investigation into suspicions of election bribery by Qatar. Separately, Mansour Abbas, Chairman of the Ra'am party, welcomed the investigation, stating that Ra'am has no connection to the matter and will cooperate fully with law enforcement to uncover the truth. Jabarin, Chairman of the Joint List, commented that encouraging voter turnout is legitimate and that any funding to increase Arab voter participation would be acceptable.

Al-Ansari also reiterated Qatar's commitment to its role as a mediator and its support for the Palestinian people, stressing that these efforts will not be diverted by the accusations. He added that any future Israeli government must respect international law, UN resolutions, and the rights of the Palestinian people, including self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.