Netanyahu's allies accuse Arab parties over alleged Qatari election funding, and Ben-Gvir seeks arrests; Arab parties and Qatar deny it
Israel's elections committee chair asked the Shin Bet to examine suspicions of foreign funding after the October 27 vote. Itamar Ben-Gvir called for arresting Arab party leaders. Ra'am, the Joint List and Qatar's foreign ministry rejected the accusations.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
After Israel's October 27, 2026 election, Central Elections Committee chair Noam Sohlberg asked the Shin Bet to investigate suspicions that foreign entities funded efforts to influence the vote, which members of Netanyahu's bloc tied to Qatar and the Arab party Ra'am. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the arrest of Arab party leaders suspected of involvement, and Likud said the election had been stolen. Ra'am's Mansour Abbas, the Joint List's Ahmad Tibi and Qatar's foreign ministry rejected the accusations.
Read the full background
Israel held a Knesset election on October 27, 2026. With nearly all votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc was projected to win 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats and the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot 48, with two Arab-led lists on track for 19. Neither bloc reached the 61 seats needed to govern, and Arab citizens voted at unprecedented rates.
Sohlberg, a Supreme Court justice, wrote to Shin Bet chief David Zini that serious suspicions had been brought to his attention of improper influence on the election through funding by foreign entities acting against Israeli interests. According to Israeli media reports, he wrote that he could not attest to the substance of the suspicions but that they had to be investigated, and he asked for findings within a week. AFP reported that the allegations concern claims that Ra'am received money from Qatar.
On the morning of October 29, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the heads of the Arab parties must be questioned by the Shin Bet that day, and Ben-Gvir called for their arrest. Likud called the affair a political earthquake. Abbas said Ra'am had no connection to it and welcomed an investigation, the Joint List accused Netanyahu and his allies of a campaign of incitement, and Qatar's foreign ministry denied interfering in the election. President Isaac Herzog called for an investigation and cautioned against stigmatizing Israel's Arab community. The Shin Bet said its inquiry was not over and was not intended to blame an entire sector that voted lawfully, and AFP reported that government officials offered no evidence for the allegations.
People in this case
Itamar Ben-GvirDirectly involved
Bezalel SmotrichDirectly involved
Mansour AbbasDirectly involved
Ahmad TibiDirectly involved
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 27, 2026 to October 29, 2026
October 2026
Israel holds a Knesset election with high Arab turnout
Incident
Israelis vote in the first Knesset election since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Arab citizens turn out at high rates, and with nearly all votes counted neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot has a majority.
[01]Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse reports that the elections committee chair asked the Shin Bet to investigate allegations that the Arab party Ra'am received money from Qatar. It quotes Likud's statement that the elections were stolen, responses from Ra'am, the Joint List and Eisenkot, and the Shin Bet's statement that its inquiry is not over. This copy is the AFP story as published on Yahoo News.
Israel piles pressure on Arab parties as Netanyahu seeks government · Agence France-PresseAfter the elections committee chair orders a Shin Bet inquiry, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir call for questioning and arrests
Claim
Central Elections Committee chair Noam Sohlberg asks Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate suspicions of improper influence on the election through foreign funding. Smotrich says the heads of the Arab parties must be questioned that day, and Ben-Gvir calls for their arrest.
[02]Israel Polls: Smotrich, Ben Gvir call for interrogation of Arab party heads after investigation ordered into allegations of foreign interference
ANI reports, in a story published by The Tribune of India, the calls by Smotrich and Ben-Gvir and Avigdor Liberman's response after Central Elections Committee chair Noam Sohlberg asked Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate suspicions of foreign interference. It quotes Sohlberg's letter as reported by Israeli media.
[03]Bezalel Smotrich
In a Hebrew-language post, Smotrich calls the suspicion of election interference with foreign Islamist money a test for Israel and says the heads of the Arab parties must be questioned by the Shin Bet that day.
Bezalel Smotrich's post on X calling for Arab party leaders to be questioned · Bezalel Smotrich[04]Itamar Ben-Gvir
In a Hebrew-language post on the morning of October 29, Ben-Gvir says the Shin Bet should order the arrest of the heads of Arab parties suspected of involvement in Qatari money, and of other suspects in the affair, where there is a legal basis to arrest them.
Itamar Ben-Gvir's post on X calling for the arrest of Arab party leaders · Itamar Ben-GvirShin Bet says its inquiry is not meant to blame an entire sector
Reaction
AFP reports that the Shin Bet said its investigation into the claims was not over and was not intended to cast aspersions on an entire sector that voted lawfully. Likud says the elections were stolen, and Ra'am and the Joint List reject the accusations.
[01]Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse reports that the elections committee chair asked the Shin Bet to investigate allegations that the Arab party Ra'am received money from Qatar. It quotes Likud's statement that the elections were stolen, responses from Ra'am, the Joint List and Eisenkot, and the Shin Bet's statement that its inquiry is not over. This copy is the AFP story as published on Yahoo News.
Israel piles pressure on Arab parties as Netanyahu seeks government · Agence France-PresseQatar denies interfering in Israel's election
Reaction
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari denies that Qatar interfered in the election or funded activities to influence it. President Isaac Herzog calls for an investigation and cautions against stigmatizing Israel's Arab community.
[05]RTÉ News
RTÉ News reports on the Netanyahu bloc's accusations of foreign funding against Arab parties after the October 27 election, quoting Ben-Gvir, Gadi Eisenkot, Ahmad Tibi, Mansour Abbas and Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari. The story was first published on the morning of October 29 and updated that evening.
Response record
Responses
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5 matching responses. Newest first.
Mansour AbbasLeader of the United Arab List (Ra'am), in a statementDirectly involvedBefore this statement
RTÉ News reports that Abbas said his party was not involved in the reported suspicious conduct, urged a full investigation and said Netanyahu was waging an incitement campaign against Israel's Arab citizens.
"We have one message in response to the campaign of incitement and delegitimisation he is waging against Arab citizens: Nothing will come of it because there is nothing there"
DeniedCase context: Netanyahu's allies accuse Arab parties over alleged Qatari election funding, and Ben-Gvir seeks arrests; Arab parties and Qatar deny it
Full statement and sources
In a statement reported by RTÉ News, Abbas says Ra'am was not involved in the reported conduct, urges a full investigation and says nothing will come of Netanyahu's campaign against Arab citizens because there is nothing there.
After the statement
In the same story, RTÉ News reports the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson's rejection of accusations that Qatar interfered in the election.
Why this label?
The case concerns the allegation, raised by members of Netanyahu's bloc and referred to the Shin Bet, that Arab parties were involved in Qatari or other foreign funding meant to influence the October 27 election. Abbas says his party was not involved and that there is nothing behind the accusations, which denies the alleged conduct.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Ahmad TibiA leader of the Joint List, speaking to ReutersDirectly involvedBefore this statement
RTÉ News reports that Arab parties rejected the accusations of foreign funding, and that Tibi, one of the leaders of the Joint List, said Netanyahu was on an orchestrated, toxic campaign meant to undermine the election results.
"This entire campaign is directed against Eisenkot, to prevent him, intimidate and scare him off forming a government that relies on external support from the Joint List or Ra'am"
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Netanyahu's allies accuse Arab parties over alleged Qatari election funding, and Ben-Gvir seeks arrests; Arab parties and Qatar deny it
Full statement and sources
Speaking to Reuters, as reported by RTÉ News, Tibi says the campaign is directed against Eisenkot, to stop him from forming a government that relies on outside support from the Joint List or Ra'am.
After the statement
RTÉ News reports that Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas said his party was not involved in the reported suspicious conduct and urged a full investigation.
Why this label?
The case concerns the allegation, raised by members of Netanyahu's bloc and referred to the Shin Bet, that Arab parties were involved in Qatari or other foreign funding meant to influence the October 27 election. Tibi does not address the funding claim itself and instead describes the accusations as an orchestrated campaign to deter Eisenkot from relying on the Arab parties, which challenges how the matter is being characterized.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
LikudPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party, in a statementDirectly involvedBefore this statement
AFP reports that Sohlberg requested a Shin Bet investigation into allegations that the Arab grouping Ra'am received money from Qatar.
"The Raamgate scandal is a political earthquake. Israel's elections have been stolen!"
CondemnedCase context: Netanyahu's allies accuse Arab parties over alleged Qatari election funding, and Ben-Gvir seeks arrests; Arab parties and Qatar deny it
Full statement and sources
In a statement reported by AFP, Netanyahu's Likud party calls what it names the Raamgate scandal a political earthquake and says Israel's elections have been stolen.
After the statement
AFP reports that Ra'am chief Mansour Abbas said his party had no connection to the affair and welcomed an investigation.
Israel piles pressure on Arab parties as Netanyahu seeks government · Agence France-PresseWhy this label?
The case concerns the allegation, raised by members of Netanyahu's bloc and referred to the Shin Bet, that Arab parties were involved in Qatari or other foreign funding meant to influence the October 27 election. Likud names the alleged scheme after Ra'am and says it means the elections were stolen, which condemns the alleged conduct.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Itamar Ben-GvirIsrael's national security minister and leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, in a post on XDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Central Elections Committee chair Noam Sohlberg had asked the Shin Bet to investigate suspicions that foreign entities funded efforts to influence the election, and Smotrich had called for the heads of the Arab parties to be questioned that day.
"The Shin Bet must order, already this morning, the arrest of the heads of the Arab parties suspected of involvement in Qatari money, and of all the other suspects in the affair, including figures in the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots, insofar as there is a legal basis for their arrest. (Translated from Hebrew. Original: השב״כ צריך להורות עוד הבוקר על מעצרם של ראשי המפלגות הערביות החשודים במעורבות בכסף קטארי, ושל כל יתר החשודים בפרשה, לרבות גורמים באחים המוסלמים ובגרורותיהם, ככל שקיימת עילה חוקית למעצרם.)"
CondemnedCase context: Netanyahu's allies accuse Arab parties over alleged Qatari election funding, and Ben-Gvir seeks arrests; Arab parties and Qatar deny it
Full statement and sources
In a post on X, Ben-Gvir says the Shin Bet should order that morning the arrest of the heads of Arab parties suspected of involvement in Qatari money and of other suspects in the affair, where a legal basis for arrest exists.
After the statement
In the same post, Ben-Gvir writes that this is a political October 27 (translation). Israel's election was held on October 27.
Itamar Ben-Gvir's post on X calling for the arrest of Arab party leaders · Itamar Ben-GvirWhy this label?
The case concerns the allegation, raised by members of Netanyahu's bloc and referred to the Shin Bet, that Arab parties were involved in Qatari or other foreign funding meant to influence the October 27 election. Ben-Gvir calls the heads of the Arab parties suspects in the Qatari money affair and demands that the Shin Bet order their arrest that morning, which treats the alleged conduct as criminal and condemns it. The condition he attaches concerns the legal basis for an arrest, not his view of the conduct.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Bezalel SmotrichIsrael's finance minister and leader of the Religious Zionism party, in a post on XDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Smotrich's post opens by saying the suspicion of election interference with foreign Islamist money is a test for the State of Israel (translation).
"The heads of the Arab parties must be questioned by the Shin Bet today. (Translated from Hebrew. Original: ראשי המפלגות הערביות מוכרחים להיחקר בשב״כ עוד היום.)"
CondemnedCase context: Netanyahu's allies accuse Arab parties over alleged Qatari election funding, and Ben-Gvir seeks arrests; Arab parties and Qatar deny it
Full statement and sources
In a post on X, Smotrich calls the suspicion of election interference with foreign Islamist money a test for Israel, says the heads of the Arab parties must be questioned by the Shin Bet that day, and says Israel will not be sold to radical Islam with terror money.
After the statement
The post ends by saying the State of Israel will not be sold to radical Islam with terror money (translation).
Bezalel Smotrich's post on X calling for Arab party leaders to be questioned · Bezalel SmotrichWhy this label?
The case concerns the allegation, raised by members of Netanyahu's bloc and referred to the Shin Bet, that Arab parties were involved in Qatari or other foreign funding meant to influence the October 27 election. Smotrich calls for the heads of the Arab parties to be questioned that day and describes the alleged funding as foreign Islamist and terror money, which condemns the alleged conduct.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(5)
Original post
Itamar Ben-Gvir's post on X calling for the arrest of Arab party leaders
About this source
In a Hebrew-language post on the morning of October 29, Ben-Gvir says the Shin Bet should order the arrest of the heads of Arab parties suspected of involvement in Qatari money, and of other suspects in the affair, where there is a legal basis to arrest them.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Israel Polls: Smotrich, Ben Gvir call for interrogation of Arab party heads after investigation ordered into allegations of foreign interference
About this source
ANI reports, in a story published by The Tribune of India, the calls by Smotrich and Ben-Gvir and Avigdor Liberman's response after Central Elections Committee chair Noam Sohlberg asked Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate suspicions of foreign interference. It quotes Sohlberg's letter as reported by Israeli media.
- Author
- ANI
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Israel piles pressure on Arab parties as Netanyahu seeks government
About this source
Agence France-Presse reports that the elections committee chair asked the Shin Bet to investigate allegations that the Arab party Ra'am received money from Qatar. It quotes Likud's statement that the elections were stolen, responses from Ra'am, the Joint List and Eisenkot, and the Shin Bet's statement that its inquiry is not over. This copy is the AFP story as published on Yahoo News.
- Author
- Shaun Tandon
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Eisenkot warns of campaign to 'delegitimise' election
About this source
RTÉ News reports on the Netanyahu bloc's accusations of foreign funding against Arab parties after the October 27 election, quoting Ben-Gvir, Gadi Eisenkot, Ahmad Tibi, Mansour Abbas and Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari. The story was first published on the morning of October 29 and updated that evening.
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Bezalel Smotrich's post on X calling for Arab party leaders to be questioned
About this source
In a Hebrew-language post, Smotrich calls the suspicion of election interference with foreign Islamist money a test for Israel and says the heads of the Arab parties must be questioned by the Shin Bet that day.
- Published
- Accessed
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Netanyahu's allies accuse Arab parties over alleged Qatari election funding, and Ben-Gvir seeks arrests; Arab parties and Qatar deny it
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
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The Dispute Index. "Netanyahu's allies accuse Arab parties over alleged Qatari election funding, and Ben-Gvir seeks arrests; Arab parties and Qatar deny it". First published: 2026-10-30. Last updated: 2026-10-30. https://disputeindex.com/cases/ben-gvir-arab-party-leaders-qatari-funding-claims