Israel's Shin Bet probes alleged Qatari funding of Arab voters as Arab parties win 19 seats

Shin Bet asked to examine Qatar funding claims

On 29 October, Central Elections Committee chairman Noam Sohlberg asked Shin Bet head David Zini to investigate suspicions of foreign interference in the Knesset election held on 27 October. According to Channel 12, as relayed by several outlets, Zini had presented the committee with information it described as exceptionally serious. Sohlberg wrote that he cannot vouch for the basis of the suspicions, but that because foreign entities are involved, they must be examined thoroughly. He wants findings within one week, ahead of the deadline for election appeals. The suspicions concern large sums allegedly moved from Qatar to groups mobilizing Arab voters, with part of the money reportedly routed through channels previously used to finance terrorism. Haaretz reports that the complaints include a claim that Qatar supplied funds to raise turnout in Arab communities.

Likud allegations and police response

Likud has accused Arab parties of stealing the election through bribery, voter intimidation, fraud and illegal software. On Wednesday, 28 October, the party also sent the committee material it says includes recordings of people from the Arab community allegedly admitting they bought votes with fuel vouchers and cash over the last 24 hours. Likud suspects the money came from Qatar and possibly Turkey. Israeli police say they have no evidence or intelligence to support the claims, and Times of Israel reports that police and committee sources rejected the fraud accusations. Separately, several suspects have been arrested in a probe into alleged cash-for-votes payments in favour of the Ra'am party, following three arrests on 27 October. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted on X calling for the Shin Bet to arrest the heads of Arab parties suspected of receiving Qatari money, while Bezalel Smotrich asked that Arab party leaders be questioned.

Seat count and votes still open

With most ballots counted, Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset and the Eisenkot-led opposition holds 48. The two Arab parties, the Joint List and Ra'am, can count on 19 seats, a record that Rzeczpospolita says roughly doubles their previous result. Neither bloc reaches the 61 seats needed for a majority. About 500,000 votes cast in special double envelopes by soldiers, diplomats and hospital patients are still to be counted and could change the split. Arab turnout was unusually high, reaching 80% in Rahat, a Bedouin town in the Negev. Sources give different timings for the outcome: RMF24 says final results were expected on the evening of 29 October, while Rzeczpospolita says official results will be announced on 4 November.

Netanyahu bloc53

Eisenkot-led opposition bloc48

Arab parties19

Netanyahu bloc

53 seats

Eisenkot-led opposition bloc

48 seats

Arab parties

19 seats

Data from the article text

What happens next

President Isaac Herzog will hold consultations with party representatives and then assign one politician the task of forming a government, according to RMF24. Netanyahu remains prime minister until a new cabinet is in place. Reports describe the vote as the first national election since the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 and three years of war. Sohlberg's one-week deadline for findings falls before the deadline for election appeals.