Don't make Qatar a scapegoat: Doha denies bribing Arab voters amid Israel poll probe

Qatar has denied allegations of meddling in Israel's elections by allegedly funnelling money to influence Arab voters, accusing Israeli politicians of running a disinformation campaign. The denial comes amid a Shin Bet probe into suspected foreign interference, as Netanyahu's bloc leads but remains short of a majority.

In Short

• Shin Bet is probing suspected Qatar, Turkey interference in Israel elections
• Qatar has denied bribing Arab voters, called allegations disinfo campaign
• PM Netanyahu's bloc leads, still short of 61 seats needed for majority

Qatar on Thursday denied allegations that it interfered in Israel's elections, pouring in money to influence the outcome. Qatar's foreign ministry said the country shouldn't be "used as a scapegoat for the political failures of certain Israeli politicians". The development comes as Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, launched a probe into suspected foreign funding to influence voting in Arab communities and boost turnout in the election.

As of the latest reported results, Prime Minister Netanyahu's bloc is leading with around 53-54 seats, ahead of the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot, which is expected to secure 48 seats, while neither side has secured the 61 seats needed for a majority. With 90% of the votes counted, the Arab parties together won 19 seats.

Shin Bet was probing suspicions that foreign entities, potentially including Qatar and Turkey, funnelled money to influence voting in Arab communities, The Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday.

It said that the investigation came upon a directive from Israel's Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg.

Majed Al Ansari, the official spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Doha categorically denies allegations that it interfered in Israeli elections or funded any activities intended to influence their outcome.

"We reject the accusations made by certain Israeli politicians and their contacts in the media, who have launched yet another disinformation campaign aiming to drag Qatar into Israeli political disputes following this week's elections," Al Ansari wrote on X.

"They accuse Qatar of buying off Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli political left and now, in this latest campaign, the Arab vote. If these claims were to be believed, Qatar would apparently own all of Israel," wrote Al Ansari.

The allegations came amid very high voting by Arab Israelis. While the overall turnout was 77.7%, the turnout among the Arabs was reported at around 60% of the total Arab population.

The Joint List, an alliance of Arab parties, alleged Netanyahu was "trying to steal the election", and they would not allow "attempts to undermine the results".

This came even as Yitzhak Kroizer, a lawmaker from Israel's far-right Otzma Yehudit party, called on supporters to arm themselves, warning that Arab Israelis would resort to violence if some of their votes were invalidated, reported Israeli media outlet Haaretz.

"From what I hear from voices in the Arab street, if Justice [Noam] Solhberg allows the invalidation of votes for the United Arab List (Ra'am), taking down the number of [Knesset] seats that the UAL has, they will begin a Operation Guardian of the Walls," Kroizer said in a video, reported Haaretz.

The reference was to a military operation in Gaza in May 2021 when Arabs clashed violently with Jews in Israel.

"Therefore, I'm calling on you to go out and arm yourself, as long as Ben-Gvir is national security minister and the [gun license] reform still stands," Kroizer said.

The Jerusalem Post, quoting a Central Elections Committee source, reported that the Shin Bet probe wouldn't delay the publication of the final election results.

The results are expected to be announced on November 4. The two main political parties in the fray are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and Yashar, the party led by his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot.

The source told The Jerusalem Post that the investigation into poll funding was "unlikely to prevent President Isaac Herzog from selecting a party leader to begin the coalition-building process".

Netanyahu's main rival, Gadi Eisenkot said he was receiving updates regarding suspicions of foreign involvement in the elections.

"I commend Netanyahu for finally condemning Qatari involvement in the State of Israel. Foreign involvement in the State of Israel is an unacceptable and gravely serious matter, especially when it involves a country that funds and supports the Hamas organization," Gadi wrote on X.

Though Gadi didn't name any country, his mention of one with links to Hamas points to Qatar.

- Ends
(Written by Anand Singh)