Ra'am Gains Seat Amidst Election Fraud Allegations and Coalition Losses
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
As vote counts update, Ra'am gains a seat to eight mandates while the coalition drops to 53 seats. Chairman of the Central Elections Committee Noam Sohlberg has ordered the Shin Bet to investigate foreign funding allegations. Suspicions involve millions from enemy states allegedly used for vote-buying, with arrests already made. Several ministers and parties have called for urgent probes, with Likud claiming the elections were "stolen" by Arab parties.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ra'am gains an eighth mandate as vote counts continue, while the coalition's seat total falls.
- Election committee chairman orders Shin Bet probe into alleged foreign funding and vote-buying.
- Millions of shekels from enemy states are suspected of being used to influence election results.
- Three individuals were arrested on election day in connection with suspected bribery and vote-buying.
- Ministers and Knesset members demand urgent investigation into alleged unprecedented interference.
- Likud claims elections were "stolen" by Arab parties supporting terror.
As vote counting continues for Israel's 26th Knesset elections, the Arab party Ra'am has gained an additional seat, bringing its total to eight mandates. This development occurs against a backdrop of escalating allegations of election fraud, including suspicions of foreign funding aimed at influencing the results. The current coalition has seen its mandate count drop to 53, while the "Change Bloc" holds 48. The Likud party is currently the largest with 26 seats, followed by Yesh Atid with 21.
Central Elections Committee Chairman, Judge Noam Sohlberg, has ordered the head of the Shin Bet, David Zinai, to investigate allegations of foreign funding for the elections and report findings within a week. This directive follows the arrest of three individuals on election day in connection with suspected vote-buying, where millions of shekels allegedly sourced from enemy states were transferred to Israel to influence the outcome. During searches, cash, ballots, and other materials were seized.
Several ministers and Knesset members, including Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, Constitution Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman, and Interior Committee Chairman Yitzhak Kroizer, have called on Sohlberg and the Shin Bet head to urgently investigate the claims, citing an unprecedented attempt to interfere with democratic elections. Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich described the suspected election manipulation via foreign funds as "extremely serious" and requiring a thorough investigation.
The Likud party announced it is submitting hundreds of testimonies and evidence to the police, Shin Bet, and the Central Elections Committee regarding alleged criminal offenses such as bribery, threats, violence, fraud, and the use of prohibited software to incite voters. The party claimed that "the elections in Israel were stolen by Arab parties that support terror and the elimination of the Jewish state."
Meanwhile, Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yesh Atid party, stated, "We must not allow political elements to exploit the situation." The Central Elections Committee confirmed it will conduct its standard post-election review of any reported disruptions or irregularities at polling stations across the country.
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