Likud Demands Probe of Arab MKs Over Alleged Election Interference

Israel's Likud party on Tuesday evening called on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to authorize an investigation involving Arab Knesset members and their parliamentary aides, amid allegations of foreign interference in voting within Israel's Arab community during the recent elections.

The demand follows reports of suspected foreign funding intended to influence the results of the elections to the 26th Knesset. The allegations remain under investigation, and no findings of wrongdoing by the lawmakers named in the reports have been established.

In a statement, Likud announced its support for a demand submitted by the Lavi organization, accusing the attorney general of obstructing efforts to investigate the allegations.

“We join the demand of the Lavi organization and call on Baharav-Miara to stop the attempts to cover up and delay the investigation into the contamination of the elections by foreign actors, to stop tying the hands of the Shin Bet, and to permit the questioning of the Knesset members from the Arab parties and of their aides,” the party said.

Likud further alleged that Baharav-Miara was improperly extending parliamentary immunity protections to Knesset members' aides, potentially preventing investigators from questioning individuals connected to the case.

“According to reports, Baharav-Miara is expanding the immunity of Knesset members to parliamentary aides as well, without any authority to do so,” the statement continued.

The party argued that such restrictions could undermine the investigation into what it described as serious suspicions of foreign involvement in the election.

Likud also cited remarks by Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, who previously acknowledged the seriousness of allegations involving foreign funding and attempts to influence the vote.

The statement referred to claims made by Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman concerning alleged funding originating from the Palestinian Authority, accusing authorities of attempting to prevent the investigation from progressing.

Earlier Tuesday, the Lavi organization formally appealed to Baharav-Miara, demanding that she immediately authorize investigators to question Knesset members and parliamentary aides suspected of involvement in what the organization described as the “ballot box terror” affair.

The appeal, submitted through attorney Avishag Schwartz, warned that the organization would consider petitioning the courts if the necessary authorizations were not granted within a reasonable period.

The request followed reports that the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, had sought permission to question parliamentary aides associated with the Joint List, an alliance of Arab political parties.

According to the report cited by Lavi, Baharav-Miara determined that because the investigation involves suspicions concerning a Knesset member, her authorization would also be required before questioning the lawmaker's aides.

Meanwhile, i24NEWS reported Tuesday evening that Shin Bet Director David Zini was seeking to question four senior public figures in connection with the investigation.

According to the report, one of the individuals is a senior Knesset member who allegedly received hundreds of thousands of shekels from the Palestinian Authority, although the purpose of the reported payments remains unclear.

The report also named Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas, Ta'al chairman Ahmad Tibi, and Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh as individuals Zini reportedly wants investigators to question.

The report did not establish that any of those named had committed wrongdoing.

Separately, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel appealed Tuesday to Justice Sohlberg, Attorney General Baharav-Miara, and Shin Bet chief Zini, calling for proper oversight of the investigation into suspected foreign interference in the elections.

The organization urged authorities to ensure that the investigation remains under the responsibility of the joint team comprising the Shin Bet, Israel Police, and the State Attorney's Office, as previously announced by the Central Elections Committee chairman.

It also called for ongoing supervision by the relevant authorities and appropriate legal guidance throughout the investigation.

The competing demands highlight growing political and legal tensions surrounding the election interference allegations, as authorities face pressure to investigate the suspicions while ensuring that the inquiry follows established legal procedures.