Jerusalem, 29 October (H.S.): Israel’s Central Elections Committee has taken allegations of foreign funding and possible interference in the country’s parliamentary elections seriously, with committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg directing Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate the matter.

In a letter to Zini, Sohlberg instructed Israel’s domestic security agency to examine suspicions that foreign entities had attempted to influence Tuesday’s Knesset elections through improper funding. The allegations reportedly concern claims that Arab organisations transferred substantial sums of money to unlawfully increase voter turnout in predominantly Arab areas.

According to reports by The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post, Sohlberg cited serious concerns about attempts by foreign entities allegedly acting against Israel’s interests to exert undue influence on the electoral process.

“Serious suspicions have been brought to my attention regarding improper influence on the elections through funding provided by foreign entities acting against Israeli interests,” Sohlberg wrote.

He acknowledged that he could not independently verify the substance of the allegations but stressed that they warranted a thorough investigation.

“I therefore instruct you to do everything in your power to investigate these suspicions and use the authority available to the Shin Bet to gather evidence that either substantiates or disproves them,” he wrote.

Sohlberg has asked the Shin Bet chief to submit the findings within a week. According to Army Radio reports, Channel 13 has also broadcast details of the investigation, including inquiries into the channels allegedly used to transfer money from foreign sources.

Investigators reportedly suspect that some of the channels used to move funds may resemble mechanisms previously associated with currency exchanges and branches linked to terrorist organisations and hostile countries. These claims remain under investigation, and no definitive evidence of foreign interference has yet been established publicly.

Separate reports have also emerged about the alleged discovery of cash and envelopes containing Ra’am party ballot slips. The Shin Bet is expected to examine whether the money originated from foreign entities or domestic sources.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was among the first Israeli politicians to call publicly on X for a thorough investigation into suspected foreign funding and electoral interference. Avigdor Lieberman also described the move as unprecedented and urged law enforcement agencies to establish the facts promptly.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has levelled serious allegations against Arab parties, including claims of bribery, intimidation, violence and vote theft. Israeli police, however, have said they have found no concrete evidence to substantiate the broader allegations of widespread electoral fraud.

The investigation into suspected foreign funding is intended to establish whether the allegations are supported by evidence. The claims remain unresolved, and the probe does not in itself establish that foreign interference or coordinated electoral fraud occurred.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar