Shin Bet probes Qatar links in Israeli election bribery scandal
Israeli security agencies are investigating whether Qatari funds paid Arab voters to cast ballots for the Ra’am party during the October 27 national vote.
By Julia Novak ·
Israeli-Arab voter turnout surged to 80 percent in the October 27 general election, a figure that is double the 40 percent rate seen in previous cycles. This spike coincided with an all-time high for Arab representation, with estimates suggesting the Ra’am and Joint List parties will secure 19 Knesset seats, up from the current 10.
The Central Election Committee, chaired by Justice Noam Sohlberg, ordered the Shin Bet to investigate serious suspicions of foreign influence. According to Channel 12, the internal security agency is looking into whether Qatar moved money through channels previously used for terror financing to boost the Arab vote. The inquiry focuses on improper influence through foreign funding.
Southern District detectives arrested four activists from the Ra’am party on suspicion of election bribery. Investigators found tens of thousands of shekels in their homes, along with ballots and envelopes marked “Gifts from the Islamic movement.” Election observers and polling station officials in various Arab communities reported seeing voters carrying fuel vouchers and gift cards. Some voters acknowledged receiving these items in exchange for voting for Ra’am.
Likud party officials have described the events as a coordinated nationwide operation involving widespread fraud and ballot manipulation. The party is currently referring to the situation as “The Ra’amgate affair” and an “earthquake.” While the scandal may not cancel the overall results, which currently favor Benjamin Netanyahu, it could nullify part or all of the Israeli-Arab vote, particularly for Ra’am.
Ra’am is the political wing of the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement. Leader Mansour Abbas predicted in August that the Arab parties would “put Israeli democracy to a test.” Abbas has previously referred to Hamas as a charity rather than a terror group. Qatar, a major financier of Hamas, denies funneling money to Israeli-Arab voters.
The Shin Bet is required to submit its findings within one week. The investigation will determine if the financial flows from Qatar to local activists constitute foreign election interference. The results of this probe will dictate whether specific portions of the October 27 vote count are invalidated or upheld.
Netanyahu holds the largest electoral vote despite the allegations. The central election committee will review the Shin Bet report to decide on the next steps for the 19 seats allocated to Arab parties. The process remains under active legal and security review as of the current week.
