Netanyahu alleges Arab parties want to turn Israel into an “Islamic” state; probe ordered into foreign funding in election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the “Ra’amgate” affair is an “earthquake,” alleging that foreign entities interfered in the October 27 parliamentary elections and bribed voters in favour of Arab parties. In a post on X, he claimed the aim was a foreign takeover of the Knesset and the “Islamization” of Israel, and called on Zionist parties not to cooperate with Ra’am and the Joint List. “Ra’amgate” refers to allegations of vote-buying linked to the Arab party Ra’am during the election.
Central Elections Committee chair Justice Noam Sohlberg wrote to Shin Bet chief David Zini saying he had received serious suspicions of improper influence on the election through funding from foreign entities, and asked for findings within a week.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Arab party leaders to be questioned, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded their arrest and alleged Qatari money was involved. Opposition bloc leader Gadi Eisenkot warned against using the investigation to delay the opening of the new Knesset. His bloc lacks the 61 seats needed to govern alone, but would pass that threshold by partnering with the two Arab parties or forming a minority government with their support.
Police said four people were arrested and are being questioned by the Lahav 433 major crimes unit over an alleged voter-bribery scheme. On election day, three Bedouin men from the south were arrested on similar suspicion; Ra’am said they were party activists and denied the allegations. It is unclear whether the case is linked to the Shin Bet probe into alleged foreign interference.