Israel’s election committee chief ordered a Shin Bet investigation into suspicions of foreign-funded influence as Qatar denied involvement and preliminary results left no bloc with a parliamentary majority.
Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari denied Thursday that Doha interfered in Israel’s Oct. 27 parliamentary election or financed efforts to sway its outcome. In a post on X, he called the allegations “ridiculous and dangerous in equal measure.”
The Times of Israel reported that Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg instructed Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) chief David Zini to investigate suspicions of improper influence through foreign funding. According to the outlet’s account of Sohlberg’s letter, he said he could not “attest to the substance” of the suspicions, and the letter did not name a country. Sohlberg requested findings within a week.
CBS News and Globes reported that the Oct. 29 preliminary count gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition 53 seats, the opposition bloc 48 and Arab-led parties 19 in the 120-seat Knesset. A majority requires 61 seats. CBS said the Arab-led parties could bring the opposition to 67 seats if they cooperate. The Central Elections Committee says the count may change before formal publication on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
President Isaac Herzog called for the allegations to be investigated and cautioned against stigmatizing an entire community of voters.
