PM's Aide Transferred Ra'am Election Probe Info to Police Chief

Information that led to an investigation into Ra'am party activists on suspicion of election bribery originated from the Prime Minister's Office and was directly transferred to the Police Commissioner by the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Ido Norden. This revelation follows a report that the information came from Netanyahu's office. Norden reportedly conveyed the details to Commissioner Dani Levi via a phone call.

Sources involved in the investigation indicated to N12 that the police will not seek to extend the detention of the three Ra'am activists arrested on election day unless evidence is found on their mobile phones. If their detention is not extended, they are expected to be released on Sunday. Four other suspects arrested previously have already been moved to house arrest, with investigators citing insufficient evidence against them.

One of the detained suspects appealed to the Supreme Court for release to house arrest, but the court rejected his request. Senior law enforcement officials believe the case is weak and unlikely to lead to an indictment, although the investigation continues. The three main suspects, from Shagur Shalom and Ar'ara in the Negev, were arrested on suspicion of planning to distribute money to citizens in exchange for votes for Ra'am, with cash envelopes allegedly found in their homes.

Ra'am has denied the allegations, claiming the activists were arrested as part of a political effort to suppress voting in the Arab community. Separately, the Shin Bet is conducting an investigation into suspected Qatari involvement in the elections, emphasizing that its information did not originate from any political party or figure. A police source clarified that there is no connection between the Ra'am activist investigation and the Shin Bet's probe.