Jerusalem, 1 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — An MK from the mostly Arab Joint List received hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash, Israeli media reported Sunday, amid an investigation into suspected foreign interference, bribery and election fraud surrounding Israel’s 26th Knesset election.
The reported transfer raises suspicions of serious criminal offenses, including bribery and money laundering, although the circumstances remain unclear and no wrongdoing has been legally established.
There is currently no evidence that the money was used for election-day operations or distributed to voters in exchange for their ballots. Nor has the suspicion that Qatar provided the funds been proven. Reports also point to disagreements within the Shin Bet over the incident’s severity and implications.
The Mossad has reportedly joined the investigation, examining possible foreign involvement, including Qatar and Turkey, which investigators are checking as a possible channel for transferring funds.
