AI summary
Summary of article:
Israel is investigating the suspected involvement of foreign money in the election, but Election Committee Chairman Solberg said the relevant doubts will not affect the fairness and credibility of the results of the 26th Congress election.
israel Central Election Commission Chairman Solberg said today that although an investigation is underway into the suspected involvement of foreign money in the recent elections, this will not affect the credibility of the results and so far “the suspects are still only suspicions.”
Israel’s National Security Agency (Shin Bet) launched an investigation last week at the request of the election committee chairman to clarify whether the United Arab Democratic Party (RAAM) had received funding from Qatar, Agence France-Presse reported. Both Qatar and the party deny the allegations.
Prime Ministernetanyahu (Benjamin Netanyahu) and his United Party (Likud) in the following days repeatedly accused Arab parties of “stealing” the election. These parties made unprecedented gains in this election and can play an important role in the opposition-led government.
Central Election Commission Chairman and Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, along with the Director of the National Security Agency and the Attorney General, assured the Israeli people via a video today: “The choice you make through your votes will be respected.”
“Legal procedures were followed in the elections for the 26th National Congress. If there were any violations, they are currently being investigated,” he said.
Solberg stressed that the investigation is still ongoing and “the suspects remain only under suspicion.”
“Our position is that even if these suspicions are ultimately confirmed, it will not shake the integrity of the election process and the credibility of the final election results.”
Summary FAQ
-
Amid suspicions over the involvement of foreign funds in the recent elections, Israel’s National Security Agency is clarifying whether the United Arab Democratic Party has received funding from Qatar. Both Qatar and the party have denied the allegations.
-
Solberg said suspicions at this stage are still just suspicions, and if there are any related violations, they are also being investigated. He stressed that the choices made by voters through ballot papers will be respected and the credibility of the election results will not be affected.
-
Because Arab parties have achieved unprecedented results in this election, they could become a major force in the formation of an opposition government. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the United Party have accused these parties of “stealing” the election for several days, making the event even more politically sensitive.
