Israel election official seeks foreign influence inquiry as Qatar denies interference

Israel’s Central Elections Committee chair, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, asked the Shin Bet chief to investigate alleged foreign influence in Tuesday’s election, ABC News reported on 29 October. Qatar denied interfering or funding efforts to influence the vote. The request puts the allegations before Israel’s domestic security service while ballots are still being counted.

Sohlberg requested an immediate inquiry and findings within a week, according to ABC. The Guardian reported that the committee sought a response before the 4 November deadline for certifying the election results. Its letter referred to claims of funding by ‘foreign entities against the Israeli interest’ but gave no details or assessment of their validity, The Guardian reported.

Qatar denies funding efforts to sway the vote

The inquiry request followed claims by Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party that Arab-Israeli politicians had ‘stolen’ the election, ABC reported. The Guardian said the source of the foreign funding allegations remained unclear. No finding of interference has been reported.

Election officials address fraud claims

Dean Livne, acting director general of the Central Elections Committee, said there was ‘no basis for claims of systematic violations of election integrity,’ The Guardian reported. President Isaac Herzog urged political leaders against ‘tarnishing an entire community that sought to exercise its right to vote.’ He said the Shin Bet and the committee would investigate allegations of foreign interference.

The allegations concern parties that could have a significant presence in the next Knesset. ABC reported that two Arab-Israeli parties were on track to win a combined 19 seats as counting continued. That was a projection, not a certified result; the requested inquiry findings are due before the 4 November certification deadline.