Shin Bet expands election interference probe to suspected Palestinian Authority funding - report

The investigation remains in its preliminary stages, with investigators yet to establish whether money was transferred, how much was involved, or what its intended purpose may have been.

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) is investigating suspicions that the Palestinian Authority transferred money to members of Arab political parties in an attempt to influence Israel's October 27 election, N12 reported on Monday.

According to the report, the investigation into possible Palestinian Authority involvement remains in its preliminary stages, with investigators yet to establish whether money was transferred, how much was involved, or what its intended purpose may have been.

The suspicions are being examined as part of a broader Shin Bet investigation into alleged foreign interference in the election, including claims that money originating in Qatar was transferred to a political figure in the Joint List, which comprises the Arab parties Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad.

N12 reported on Monday night that investigators had identified a route through which money from Qatar reached a political figure within the Joint List, allegedly to encourage voter turnout.

Earlier this week, the Shin Bet began investigating suspicions that an unnamed current Joint List MK received thousands of shekels from Qatar, which were subsequently used by the party during its election campaign.

Investigators are examining whether the alleged foreign funding was used for unlawful election-related activities.

The official results are scheduled to be presented to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, after which consultations on forming the next government are expected to begin.

Likud accuses attorney-general of obstructing investigation

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party accused Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara of obstructing the Shin Bet investigation after Channel 13 reported on Monday that she had required her approval before parliamentary aides from the Joint List could be questioned.

According to Channel 13, the Shin Bet sought to question the aides as part of its investigation into suspicions that foreign funds were transferred to political figures in Arab parties to influence voter turnout.

Baharav-Miara reportedly determined that because the investigation involves suspicions concerning an MK, questioning parliamentary aides would also be subject to the immunity-related procedures governing investigations of lawmakers.

She therefore required investigators to first establish an evidentiary basis for the suspicions against the MK before considering whether to authorize questioning of the lawmaker and parliamentary aides.

Likud accused the attorney-general of applying different standards to the election investigation than to previous investigations involving government officials, calling her decision "selective enforcement on steroids."

"In Baharav-Miara's campaign of persecution, she readily approved investigations of ministers, Knesset members, the prime minister's chief of staff, advisers to the prime minister, advisers to ministers, and others," the party said.

"Now, when it comes to a serious case of foreign interference in Israel's elections, she is doing everything in her power to thwart efforts to uncover the truth," Likud added.

The party demanded that Baharav-Miara allow the Shin Bet to complete its investigation and "cease attempts at a cover-up, as she did with the investigation into the former military advocate-general."