Smotrich calls on Shin Bet to question Arab party leaders over foreign interference claims

Summary

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called on the Shin Bet to question Arab party leaders over claims of foreign influence in the election, according to a Haaretz report cited by Middle East Eye. The call followed a request by Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg for an investigation into suspected foreign influence on the elections. Likud responded that the election was stolen and called the move an attack on democracy, while Democrats leader Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of trying to undermine the results. The Guardian reports that Netanyahu accused Arab Israeli parties of using foreign backing to steal the election, in which his coalition lost its parliamentary majority, and that he and his allies asked the Shin Bet to investigate alleged vote buying in Palestinian communities. With more than 90 percent of votes counted, preliminary results point to a deadlock, with neither bloc reaching the 61 seats needed for a majority, partly because Palestinian-led parties won a projected record 19 seats. Those parties have offered to back an opposition-led minority government, but key opposition figures have rejected governing with Arab parties.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   29 Oct 2026, 10:50 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye, citing Haaretz, reports that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on the Shin Bet to question Arab party leaders over claims of foreign interference in the election.

2. The Guardian

   29 Oct 2026, 17:26 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Netanyahu accused Arab Israeli parties of using foreign backing to steal Tuesday's election and that he and his allies asked the Shin Bet to investigate alleged vote buying in Palestinian communities.