Israel’s Shin Bet finds no evidence of foreign election meddling: Report

What the report says

Israel’s domestic security service, Shin Bet, has found no evidence of foreign meddling in Israel’s recent election, according to a Haaretz report cited by Al Jazeera. The alleged inquiry focused on claims from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet chief David Zini that the Palestinian Authority or other outside actors had helped influence voting outcomes.

Two senior Israeli law enforcement officials told Haaretz that the investigation, which is still ongoing, has not substantiated assertions that hundreds of thousands of shekels were transferred to Arab-led parties in Israel. The officials also said there was no indication that fuel cards were used to bribe voters, and major fuel companies reportedly found no unusual activity. Dozens of people have been questioned, but investigators have not found proof of unlawful money transfers or foreign funding tied to the election.

The allegations surfaced after Arab-led parties, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, won 19 seats in the October 27 election, a result that could help opposition parties challenge Netanyahu’s coalition. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has asked opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot to make the first attempt to form a government. Al Jazeera reported that Israel’s attorney general has also said she has seen no evidence that would justify changing the election result.

Qatar denied related accusations that it had sought to influence the vote. The report is important because it highlights the political sensitivity around Arab voter participation and the broader struggle over coalition formation in Israel.