After Likud, allies claim 'elections were stolen', Israel Elections Committee says no 'systematic damage to election integrity'

Following reports of a Shin Bet investigation into possible election interference by foreign elements, the Central Elections Committee (CEC) issued an official clarification amid harsh accusations of fraud by the coalition parties against the Arab parties.

In a letter to MK Vladimir Beliak of the opposition Yesh Atid party, the committee said that, so far, there is no basis for allegations of "systematic damage to the integrity of the elections."

Beliak, deputy chairman of the CEC, had complained on his 𝕏 account that he learned of the investigation from the media, despite being a senior member of the committee, and demanded that the Committee's Presidency immediately convene a confidential meeting on the nature of the investigation and the evidence behind it.

The Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had alleged that Qatar or Turkey could be the source of the money used to incentivize the increased Arab voter turnout, calling it “Ra’amgate” in a nod to the Islamist Ra'am party, which, alongside the Joint List, saw a record high voter turnout on Tuesday.

The party called the affair "an earthquake" and concluded that the election "was stolen."

"This is an attack on democracy aimed at enabling foreign control of the Knesset, the Islamization of Israel, and the overthrow of right-wing rule in order to bring about withdrawal and the defeat of the IDF on every front—with Iran at the top of the list... it is clear that no Zionist party must cooperate with Ra’am and Hadash–Ta’al, replace the Knesset speaker using votes bought with cash, or establish a government that endangers Israel," the Likud party stated.

Later Thursday, current opposition leader Yair Lapid estimated that there was no danger to integrity of the election results after receiving a briefing on the investigation from Shin Bet chief David Zini: "Based on my familiarity with the material and after hearing from the authorities handling the matter, there is no risk or concern that the election results could be challenged, and there is no impediment to swearing in the Knesset.”

Right-wing Israeli accounts shared pictures of large numbers of prepaid file cards allegedly discarded at southern Israeli gas stations near the area where the arrests were made on Tuesday for election bribery, which appeared to corroborate the claims.

למישהו יש מושג למה ב48 השעות האחרונות כל תחנות הדלק בנגב מלאות בכרטיסי תדלוק חד פעמיים משומשים?? יכול להיות שזה קשור לבחירות באיזושהי צורה? אולי מישהו חילק? אצלנו ? והרשויות שלנו לא ידעו? אין סיכוי https://t.co/h6nzZ2W2Yv

— גלעד אך (@giladach) October 29, 2026

In an interview with Kan Reshet Bet radio, Joint List chairman Yousef Jabareen did not deny that financial compensation may have been given to encourage voter turnout.

“This is a legal, legitimate, and even welcome action,” Jabareen said. “If funds were transferred to increase voter turnout—there is nothing wrong with that.”

After speaking with CEC chief Noam Sohlberg, President Isaac Herzog stated the matter should be “thoroughly investigated,” but cautioned against “tarnishing an entire community.”

“The integrity of our elections is a supreme democratic value,” Herzog said in a statement. “The evidence and the allegations must be fully investigated, and those responsible must be arrested and held accountable according to the full extent of the law.”

“But even at a moment like this, we must not tarnish an entire community that sought to exercise its right to vote and take an active part in democracy,” he appealed.

Opposition bloc leader Gadi Eisenkot also called for a full investigation but warned against attempts to “exploit the situation.”

“Israel must do everything in its power to safeguard the integrity of the elections against any attempt at interference, spin or manipulation, and thoroughly investigate every complaint,” Eisenkot said in a statement. “At the same time, political actors must not be allowed to exploit the situation to influence the date of the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset.”

The Israel Police, despite previously stating there was no evidence to support claims of widespread election fraud, vowed in a second statement to “thoroughly and impartially” investigate and examine any evidence for election interference.

“We will not allow anyone to undermine the purity of the elections and the democratic process. For every suspicion of an offense, the Israel Police will act resolutely to investigate the truth and bring the involved parties to justice, without exception,” Police Commissioner Danny Levy said.

The police also announced the arrest of an additional four individuals in connection with the apparent attempt to bribe Arab voters in Israel’s south on Tuesday.

At the same time, Kan 11 News and Channel 12 News reported that Shin Bet chief David Zini had already received information regarding possible election interference even before Tuesday, but waited to see if the intelligence could be substantiated.

Only afterwards, did Zini approach Sohlberg with the evidence, leading the CEC head to order an official investigation.

Coalition leaders reacted with outrage to the report. Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich stated that "the suspicion of election interference with foreign Islamist money is a litmus test for the State of Israel," calling for the heads of the Arab parties to be interrogated by Shin Bet.

Moshe Feiglin, leader of the Zehut party who ran together with Smotrich, even demanded, "These elections must be canceled immediately!"

Arab Balad party chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh accused Netanyahu and his coalition allies of seeking a pretext to disqualify the high voter turnout among the Arab sector.

“Netanyahu and his partners are dangerous people who are constructing a narrative to justify refusing to accept the results of one of the most decisive elections this country has seen in decades,” Abu Shehadeh said in a statement.

The Balad chairman was himself disqualified from running in the elections by the CEC. Abu Shehadeh accused the coalition parties of fabricating “a racist blood libel” against the Arab parties.

Ra’am party head Mansour Abbas issued a statement welcoming the investigation and saying that his party was not involved in the affair.

“Ra'am welcomes the decision of the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, to investigate the suspicions of an improper attempt to influence the elections through foreign funding,” Abbas said.

“Preserving the integrity of elections and the rule of law is a civic and democratic duty that we have engraved on our flag. Ra'am has no connection to the affair in question or to other affairs, and we declare that we will cooperate fully with all law enforcement authorities in order to clarify the truth,” he continued.

Following a meeting between Zini and Eisenkot, the Yashar party leader said, “the Shin Bet must investigate the suspicions impartially, thoroughly, and immediately. An iron fist must be taken against anyone found to have harmed or attempted to harm the integrity of the elections.”

However, Eisenkot also criticized Netanyahu over the apparent hypocrisy of condemning Qatari interference in the Israeli government after several of Netanyahu’s personal staff were implicated in working for Qatari influence operations in Israel, intended to improve Israelis’ perception of the Gulf state.

“I commend Netanyahu for finally condemning Qatari involvement in the State of Israel,” Eisenkot wrote. “Foreign involvement in the State of Israel is an unacceptable and gravely serious matter, especially when it involves a country that funds and supports the Hamas organization. This is grave when it happens in the Prime Minister's Office and grave if it occurs in the election system.”

Early Thursday afternoon, anonymous Israeli officials told Ynet and Kan 11 that the investigation is a smaller affair than the political commentary made it appear.

“It’s a much smaller affair than is being made out. It’s not something that hasn’t happened in the past – it’s just that here it crossed a certain threshold of evidence that requires an investigation,” a source told Ynet.

Dean Livneh, Acting Director-General of the Central Elections Committee, downplayed the allegations in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet radio.

“We see no basis for claims that the election was stolen. We received a list of allegations – not evidence – from the Likud and other parties. Some may have merit, while others may not,” Livneh said.