Police reject election-theft claim and pledge impartial investigations
Police officials initially pushed back against Likud’s claim that Arab voters had stolen the election: “There is no investigative or intelligence evidence to support this claim.”
The Israel Police commissioner said:
“The Israel Police has declared that it will safeguard the integrity of the elections at all costs, and it will do so. Every complaint received and every suspicion of an offense related to election integrity will be thoroughly and impartially examined and investigated. We will not allow anyone to undermine the integrity of the elections or the democratic process. In every case involving suspicion of a criminal offense, the police will act decisively to uncover the truth and ensure that those involved are brought to justice, without exception.”
Additional arrests were reported in the Ra’am affair involving alleged election bribery with envelopes. Segal reported that four additional suspects were being questioned over their alleged involvement.
Shagi Keizler, Likud’s director of election integrity in the Arab sector, accused the authorities of failing to follow up on complaints submitted on Election Day:
“These are the complaints we submitted to the Central Elections Committee on Election Day itself, including details of the incidents and phone numbers of committee members who could testify about the complaints. A total of 1,183 complaints (38 cases of bribery, 25 cases of improper police interference, 66 cases of violence/threats, 115 cases of double voting, and 408 cases of unauthorized disclosure of voter information). Neither the police nor the Elections Committee contacted a single witness. Apparently, the conclusion had already been decided in advance.”
The five category figures Keizler listed sum to 652; his statement did not provide a complete breakdown of the overall 1,183 complaints he cited.
Segal challenges election official’s earlier dismissal of fraud claims
Segal reported that, about an hour before the affair became public, Acting Central Elections Committee Director General Din Livne told Kan Bet radio that the committee saw no basis for claims that the election had been stolen in the Arab sector.
Segal criticized the contrast between that assessment and Livne’s earlier public warnings about attempts to undermine the election, which Segal characterized as directed at the right.
He questioned Livne’s dismissal of the allegations shortly before the committee’s investigation request became public.
Qatar denies interference; Abbas pledges cooperation
Qatar strongly denied interfering in the election and said it had not funded activities intended to influence the results.
Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas said:
“I welcome Solberg’s decision to investigate the allegations of an attempt to improperly influence the elections through foreign funding. Ra’am has no connection to this affair or to any other affairs, and we will cooperate fully with all law enforcement authorities.”
President Isaac Herzog said:
“This is a sensitive moment — the evidence and suspicions must be thoroughly investigated.”
