Israel
Shin Bet ordered to probe alleged Qatari funding of Arab voter turnout drive
By Jewish Life Staff, . Jewish Life.
Israel's Central Elections Committee chairman, Justice Noam Sohlberg, ordered Shin Bet chief David Zini on Thursday to open a criminal investigation into allegations that foreign money, suspected to include Qatari funds, was used to illegally increase Arab voter turnout in this week's Knesset elections, Israel's parliament. The Jerusalem Post and Haaretz both reported the directive on Thursday; Globes reported that the intelligence Zini presented left Sohlberg in a state of shock.
What Sohlberg's letter says
Sohlberg wrote that "severe suspicions have been brought before me regarding improper influence through foreign funding by entities acting against Israeli interests during the elections," according to the Jerusalem Post. He instructed Zini to "do everything in your power to investigate the aforementioned allegations and to utilize the powers of the General Security Service to obtain evidence to substantiate or refute these suspicions."
Globes reported that Sohlberg asked for findings within one week, a deadline set by the timeline for the official vote count. The publication also noted that the investigation originated with Shin Bet intelligence, not with a request from any political party.
What is being investigated
The Jerusalem Post reported that investigators are examining alleged funding channels, including suspected ties to networks previously used to move money for terrorism, along with reports of cash-filled envelopes and Ra'am party voting slips being intercepted. Ra'am is an Arab Islamist party that sits in the Knesset.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported that security officials had been looking into the matter before Tuesday's elections. "This is an investigation that was opened over the past two weeks based on solid intelligence information," a security source told KAN, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post. "We understand that something is wrong, and we are investigating it seriously."
Four additional suspects were being questioned Thursday in connection with alleged cash-based election bribery, Israeli media reported, according to the Jerusalem Post.
A disputed picture
Haaretz reported that a senior police official told the publication the allegations are so far "baseless." Israel Police issued a statement saying it would "do everything in its power to safeguard the integrity of the elections" and would act "decisively" wherever a criminal offense was suspected.
Haaretz also reported that Likud, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party, is using Sohlberg's letter to pressure opposition lawmakers against removing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. Likud called the alleged interference an "attack on democracy" and said it would submit what it described as "hundreds of testimonies and pieces of evidence" of polling-station irregularities to the committee and relevant authorities.
Sohlberg's letter, as quoted by Globes, did not name any specific foreign entity or party alleged to have received funds. The investigation remains open, and the reports describe the situation as still developing.
Sources
1. Shin Bet probes suspected Qatari, Turkish funding to boost Arab turnout in Israeli election, jpost.com
2. Shin Bet to probe alleged Qatari interference in elections, en.globes.co.il
3. Election committee chief urges Shin Bet to probe foreign funding allegations, haaretz.com