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Ra'am Leader Denies Election Interference Claims, Blames Netanyahu
Ra'am party chairman Mansour Abbas has denied any involvement by his party in allegations of foreign funding and voter bribery during the recent Knesset elections. Abbas welcomed an investigation into the matter, which was ordered by Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg.
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What happened
- 01Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas denied his party's involvement in allegations of foreign funding and voter bribery in the Knesset elections.
- 02Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg ordered the Shin Bet to investigate serious suspicions of foreign influence.
- 03The investigation reportedly focuses on potential financial channels connected to Qatar and Turkey.
- 04A police investigation into the alleged vote buying has reportedly resulted in the arrest of seven suspects.
- 05Abbas welcomed the probe, pledged full cooperation, and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of incitement against Arab citizens.
- 06President Isaac Herzog stressed the importance of election integrity while cautioning against broad generalizations.
- 07Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Avigdor Lieberman called for the interrogation of Arab party leaders.
Sohlberg directed Shin Bet head David Zini to investigate serious suspicions of foreign influence, which reportedly focus on potential financial channels connected to Qatar and Turkey. A police investigation has also reportedly led to the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the allegations, which involve vote buying within the Arab community.
Abbas pledged full cooperation with law enforcement to uncover the truth, stating that Ra'am has no connection to the affair. He also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of conducting a campaign of incitement and delegitimization against Arab citizens, while pointing to alleged links between Netanyahu's own advisors and Qatar.
President Isaac Herzog emphasized the importance of election integrity while warning against generalizations. Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and opposition figure Avigdor Lieberman have called for the interrogation of Arab party leaders.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 4 newsrooms. Updated
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