The Shin Bet is investigating suspicions that foreign entities, potentially including Qatar and Turkey, funneled money into Israel to influence voter turnout in the Arab sector during the election, following an order from Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg to investigate suspected foreign funding and election interference.
Sohlberg instructed Shin Bet Chief David Zini to use the agency’s investigative powers to establish whether the allegations could be substantiated, citing “severe suspicions” of improper foreign influence by entities acting against Israeli interests.
“Severe suspicions have been brought before me regarding improper influence through foreign funding by entities acting against Israeli interests during the elections,” Sohlberg wrote in a directive to investigate suspected foreign funding and election bribery.
“Therefore, I instruct you 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.”
The investigation is examining alleged funding channels, including suspected links to networks previously associated with terrorist organizations, as well as reports of envelopes containing cash and voting slips for the Ra’am party being intercepted.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party on Wednesday accused Arab parties of allegedly “stealing” Israel’s election, demanding law enforcement authorities probe the claims.
The ruling party claimed it would submit “hundreds of testimonies and pieces of evidence” it claims is proof of extensive irregularities at polling stations to the CEC and relevant authorities.
Channel 13 published details of the Shin Bet’s investigations into the matter, including the examination of channels used by foreign sources to transfer funds.
Possible sources for the funds include Qatar and Turkey.
According to Army Radio, investigators suspect that channels used in funneling money for the purpose of election interference overlap with channels previously linked to terrorist organizations and funds, as well as currency exchanges and branches within hostile nations.
Additionally, reports have surfaced regarding the interception of envelopes packed with cash and voting slips for the Ra’am party.
The investigation marks an unprecedented step in examining suspected foreign interference in Israel’s electoral process, with the Shin Bet tasked with probing whether foreign actors sought to influence voting through illicit funding.