Qatar 'categorically' denies allegations of election interference in Israel as 'ridiculous and dangerous'

Qatar denied allegations by Israeli media outlets and politicians that the emirate is behind the alleged funding of bribery attempts as part of an effort to raise Arab voter turnout in Tuesday's election, which the Shin Bet is currently investigating.

"We categorically deny allegations that Qatar has interfered in Israeli elections or funded any activities intended to influence their outcome," the Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, stated on X.

"We reject the accusations made by certain Israeli politicians and their contacts in the media, who have launched yet another disinformation campaign aiming to drag Qatar into Israeli political disputes following this week’s elections... If these claims were to be believed, Qatar would apparently own all of Israel."

"These accusations are ridiculous and dangerous in equal measure," Ansari said, adding that these "are internal Israeli matters in which we do not interfere, and we will not accept any attempt to draw Qatar into its domestic political disputes."

He called on any future Israeli government to "uphold international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, engage seriously and honestly on the Palestinian issue, and respect the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to self-determination and an independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital."

"None of this will distract us from our important role as a mediator, our diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, our support for the Palestinian people, or our commitment to a just and comprehensive peace and regional stability," he concluded.