Shin Bet probes possible interference in Israel’s Arab vote
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Kassataya
Israel’s Central Elections Committee asked the Shin Bet to investigate possible foreign interference intended to encourage Arab citizens to vote. The move comes after Likud accused Arab-Israeli parties of fraud, reports Kassataya.
The president of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, Noam Sohlberg, asked the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence service, on Thursday 29 October to investigate possible foreign interference intended to encourage voting by Israel’s Arab citizens, according to Kassataya. The request came after Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu’s party, referred the matter to the police, the Shin Bet and the Central Elections Committee, calling for an investigation into alleged fraud.
The results for 90.4% of counted ballots give neither of the two blocs the 61 seats needed to secure an absolute majority in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Israeli Arab parties, strengthened by the vote, find themselves in a kingmaker position, but their support has been rejected as an option by ultranationalist Avigdor Lieberman and was not mentioned by Netanyahu’s rival, Gadi Eisenkot, according to Kassataya.
The request for an investigation came after Likud accused the United Arab List of vote-buying on 28 October. It also extends the debate opened by the Israeli election results without a majority, while Yaïr Golan, leader of The Democrats party, called for an end to pitting Jewish and Arab votes against each other.
