The elections in Israel on October 27, 2026, ended without an obvious winner, but within a day the country faced a new political crisis. The chairman of the Central Election Commission, Supreme Court Judge Noam Solberg, demanded that the Shin Bet investigate suspicions of foreign funding aimed at illegally influencing the vote. Israeli media publications mention Qatar, and the alleged money flows are linked to financial channels previously used to finance terrorism.
Author: Alexander Khmelnitsky
If the suspicions are confirmed, the consequences could extend far beyond a criminal case. Certain voting results, coalition prospects, and Israel’s relations with regional states will be in question.
What is known about the money and the Shin Bet investigation
On October 28, 2026, Solberg sent an official letter to Shin Bet head David Zini demanding to verify information about foreign interference. According to i24NEWS, before this, Zini presented the CEC chairman with intelligence characterized as exceptionally serious.
Solberg demanded to report the results of the check within a week. At the same time, he emphasized that he cannot yet confirm the reliability of the received information.
According to Israeli media reports, it may involve tens of millions of shekels, allegedly aimed at boosting turnout in the Arab sector. Possible foreign sources mentioned include Qatar and Turkey.
A particularly alarming detail concerns the alleged transfer routes. It is reported that some financial channels may have intersected with networks previously used for financing terrorist activities. However, the coincidence of intermediaries does not yet prove the involvement of terrorist organizations or foreign governments in voter bribery.
Simultaneously, the police are investigating alleged payments for votes in favor of the Arab party Ra’am. Several suspects were detained in the Negev, and the investigation was transferred to the Lahav 433 unit, which deals with complex economic crimes and corruption. Ra’am denies the allegations of violations.
Why the scandal could determine who will govern Israel
Preliminary results explain the political sharpness of the situation. Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc receives about 53 mandates, other opposition parties — 48, Arab lists — 19. A majority in the 120-seat Knesset requires 61 deputies.
Thus, without the support of at least some Arab deputies, Netanyahu’s opponents find it difficult to form a government. This situation was analyzed even before the vote by NANews in the material about Mansour Abbas’s strategy and possible coalition after the elections.
Now cooperation with Arab parties becomes politically dangerous for potential partners. Likud has already accused Arab parties of the alleged election theft and demanded an investigation.
But accusations against individual activists cannot automatically be extended to all Arab voters. Their legitimate votes have the same power as the votes of other Israeli citizens.
Can elections be annulled and a re-vote scheduled
Israeli law allows for judicial challenges to the results if violations could affect the results or the distribution of mandates. Depending on the evidence, the court may change the distribution of votes or annul the voting entirely or at specific polling stations.
However, intelligence reports, arrests, and political statements are not enough for this. Specific illegal actions and their significant impact on the results must be established.
There is another, more immediate risk. Even if the court does not change the results, parties may fail to agree on a government. Then, after the legally provided attempts to form a coalition, Israel risks going to elections again in 2027.
It turns out that the alleged foreign operation, even if remaining unproven, can already influence political negotiations.
Qatar, the strike on Doha, and international consequences
The Qatari direction has an important background. On September 9, 2025, Israel carried out an airstrike on Hamas leaders in Doha. The operation caused an international conflict, as Qatar simultaneously acted as a mediator in negotiations on Gaza.
Then, as NANews — Israel News Nikk.Agency wrote, Ukraine condemned the violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, also considering its role in the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia.
Today, the question arises whether the alleged interference in the Israeli elections could be part of a broader confrontation between Doha and Jerusalem. So far, there is no evidence of such a connection.
If Qatar’s state involvement is confirmed, Israel will have grounds for a serious diplomatic conflict, investigations of cross-border financial networks, and a review of relations with intermediary structures.
But the main question now lies within the country.
After the elections on October 27, Israel received a parliament in which Arab parties can play a decisive role in forming the government. Within a day, suspicions arose that could question the political legitimacy of cooperation with them.
Even if the investigation does not lead to the annulment of any votes, it may disrupt the formation of the government. And if the Shin Bet proves organized foreign interference, Israel will face not just a coalition crisis, but the question of the security of its own elections from foreign financial operations.
That is why the results of the check requested by Solberg will be significant not only for Israeli politics but also for national security.