CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Bhopal: Jerusalem. The investigation into alleged foreign interference in Israel’s recent parliamentary election has now widened. At the request of the domestic security agency Shin Bet, the foreign intelligence agency Mossad has also joined the probe. The investigation is examining the alleged role of Qatar and Turkey. However, both countries have categorically rejected allegations that they influenced Israel’s election. The main objective of the investigation is to find out whether attempts were made to influence voter behaviour and the voting process by routing money from foreign sources.
What are the allegations against Qatar and Turkey? According to Israeli media reports, the investigation is focusing on the suspicion that large sums of money from Qatar were sent to some organisations in Israel in order to influence Arab voters’ participation and voting. Turkey’s possible role is also being investigated. Mossad has been brought in specifically to help examine intelligence aspects linked to foreign governments.
Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid al-Ansari described the allegations as misleading propaganda and said Qatar was being dragged into Israel’s domestic political disputes by Israeli leaders and some people in the media. Turkey has also called the allegations baseless and said this is an attempt to influence public opinion.
Election committee calls probe limited. The chairman of Israel’s Central Elections Committee and Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg had directed Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate suspicions of foreign interference. He said that, in a democracy, it is necessary to seriously investigate such allegations to maintain the fairness of elections. The findings of the investigation have been asked to be submitted within a week.
However, the election committee has clarified that the investigation does not mean the fairness of the entire election has come under question. According to the committee’s acting director general Dean Livne, the electoral process at polling stations was conducted in accordance with the law, and there is currently no basis for claims of election irregularities at an organised level. Shin Bet has also said the investigation is limited in scope and its purpose is not to put any entire community under suspicion.
Netanyahu’s coalition did not get a majority. After the election held on October 27, no coalition secured a clear majority in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. The coalition backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won 53 seats, while the opposition camp secured 48 seats. In the 120-member parliament, 61 seats are needed to form a government. Arab parties together won 19 seats, making their role important in the political process of government formation.
Opposition leaders have alleged that the investigation into foreign interference in the election should not be used politically to question the legitimacy of the results. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has also said that an entire community should not be targeted on the basis of election allegations.
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