Israel’s Central Elections Committee chairman, Justice Noam Sohlberg, has directed Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate suspicions of foreign interference in the country’s election, including allegations
that overseas funding was used to improperly influence voting, The Times Of Israel reported.
In a letter to Zini, Sohlberg said he had received information raising concerns about financial support from foreign entities allegedly acting against Israel’s interests. He called for a thorough investigation to establish whether the suspicions could be substantiated.
“Serious suspicions have been brought to my attention regarding improper influence on the elections — exerted through funding provided by foreign entities acting against Israeli interests,” Sohlberg wrote.
“While I cannot attest to the substance of these suspicions, it is my view that — given they involve foreign entities — there is an obligation to investigate them thoroughly,” he added.
The election committee chair did not identify the countries or organisations allegedly involved, nor did he disclose further details of the suspected interference.
“In light of this, I instruct you to do everything in your power to investigate these suspicions, utilising the authority of the Shin Bet to uncover evidence that either substantiates or refutes them,” Sohlberg said. “Only in this way can we ensure public trust in the electoral process and the integrity of the democratic procedure,” he added.
Sohlberg has asked the security agency to submit its findings within a week.
Qatar, Turkey Suspected Of Funding Arab Voter Mobilisation
Israeli media reports have suggested that the investigation centres on suspected foreign funding channelled to organisations involved in mobilising Arab voters. Qatar and Turkey have been named as possible sources of the money, although the allegations have not been established, according to The Times Of Israel.
According to Hebrew-language media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party believes the funds may have been sent to groups seeking to increase voter participation among Arab citizens.
Reports have also pointed to intelligence shared with Sohlberg that prompted the request for an investigation.
Army Radio reported that investigators were examining whether the channels allegedly used to transfer the money overlapped with those previously associated with terrorist financing, including currency exchanges and branches operating in countries regarded as hostile by Israel.
Separate reports also referred to the interception of envelopes containing cash and voting slips for the Ra’am party. The Shin Bet is expected to examine whether the money originated from foreign entities or domestic sources.
Netanyahu Calls Allegations An ‘Attack On Democracy’
Netanyahu’s Likud party has accused Arab political lists of having “stolen” the election, alleging “corruption, threats, violence, falsehoods and the use of prohibited software” to boost voter turnout. The party has not publicly presented evidence for these claims.
הודעת הליכוד:
פרשת רע״מגייט היא רעידת אדמה. גנבו את הבחירות בישראל!
הדברים של השופט סולברג על מעורבות של גורמים זרים שהתערבו ושיחדו מצביעים לטובת המפלגות הערביות הם טלטלה חסרת תקדים.
מדובר בפיגוע בדמוקרטיה שמטרתו להוביל להשתלטות זרה על הכנסת, לאיסלאמיזציה של ישראל, ולהפלת שלטון הימין כדי להוביל לנסיגה ותבוסת צה״ל בכל הזירות – ובראשן איראן.
אחרי שהתברר שגורמים זרים ניסו להשתלט על הכנסת ברור שאסור לאף מפלגה ציונית לשתף פעולה עם רע״מ והמשותפת, להחליף את יו״ר הכנסת באמצעות קולות שנקנו במזומן, ולהקים ממשלה מסוכנת לישראל.
אנו דורשים לפעול מייד ובכל האמצעים הקיימים בידי השב״כ והמשטרה כדי לחקור את הפשעים הללו.
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 29, 2026
Netanyahu subsequently issued a statement on the allegations, describing the suspected interference as a major political and security concern.
The statement read, “The Ra’amgate affair is an earthquake. They stole the elections in Israel! The judge Solberg’s statements about the involvement of foreign entities that interfered and bribed voters in favour of the Arab parties are an unprecedented shock.”
“This is an attack on democracy whose purpose is to lead to a foreign takeover of the Knesset, the Islamization of Israel, and the overthrow of right-wing rule in order to lead to retreat and defeat of the IDF in all arenas – and primarily Iran,” he added.
“After it was revealed that foreign entities tried to take over the Knesset, it is clear that no Zionist party should cooperate with Ra’am and the Joint List, replace the Knesset Speaker through votes bought for cash, and form a government that is dangerous to Israel. We demand to act immediately and with all means available to the Shin Bet and the police to investigate these crimes,” Netanyahu added.
Israeli Police Rejects Likud’s ‘Election Stolen’ Claim
Israeli police rejected Likud’s claim that Arab parties had “stolen” the election, saying there was no investigative or intelligence-based evidence to support the allegations.
The Central Elections Committee, meanwhile, said it was reviewing the party’s complaints as part of its election-integrity monitoring process.
Ben Gvir Calls For Arrests; Ministers Demand Action
The allegations have triggered calls from members of Netanyahu’s right-wing government for swift action against those suspected of involvement.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the immediate arrest of Arab party leaders suspected of links to alleged Qatari funding, alongside other suspects, including Muslim Brotherhood figures, where legally justified.
“Israel’s security agency Shin Bet must order, already this morning, the arrests of the heads of Arab parties suspected of involvement in Qatari money”, Itamar Ben Gvir wrote on X.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also demanded that Arab party leaders be questioned by the Shin Bet, describing the allegations as a test for Israel.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman called Sohlberg’s letter a “dramatic and unprecedented event” and urged law enforcement agencies to establish the facts without delay.
The calls for arrests and questioning have come before the investigation has established whether foreign funding was involved or whether any electoral offence took place.
Netanyahu’s Bloc Falls Short Of Majority
The investigation is unfolding amid uncertainty over the formation of Israel’s next government following Tuesday’s election, the first since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered Israel’s war in Gaza and wider regional conflict.
With more than 85% of ballots counted, Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc was projected to win 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, short of the 61 required for a majority. The opposition camp led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot was projected to secure 48 seats, while Arab-led parties were expected to hold 19.
The results have made the Arab parties potential kingmakers in government-formation negotiations, although cooperation with them remains contentious among several opposition parties.
The Shin Bet’s probe is expected to determine whether the allegations are supported by evidence, while political parties continue negotiations over the next government.
