“We are encountering election disruptions on a scale unlike anything we have seen in previous years in the Arab sector,” a senior official said.
By United with Israel Staff
Israeli police arrested three suspects in the Negev on suspicion of attempting to bribe voters with cash in exchange for votes for Mansour Abbas’ Arab Ra’am party, as authorities investigate a series of suspected Election Day violations.
The three suspects, residents of the Segev Shalom and Arara areas of the Negev, were arrested overnight by the Southern District Central Unit as part of police operations to identify and prevent election offenses.
According to police, the suspects are being investigated on suspicion of involvement in an attempted election bribery scheme in which money was allegedly intended to be distributed to citizens in exchange for voting for Ra’am in Tuesday’s election.
Searches of the suspects’ homes uncovered envelopes containing tens of thousands of shekels in cash, along with ballot slips and other evidence suspected of being connected to the alleged offenses, police said.
The suspects were transferred for questioning by the Southern District Fraud Unit and are expected to be brought before a court Tuesday as police seek to extend their detention. The investigation remains ongoing.
The arrests prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call for an investigation into the incident.
“A serious affair on Election Day: Three suspects were arrested with envelopes of money and ballot slips for Mansour Abbas,” Netanyahu said.
“I demand that the law enforcement system investigate the incident,” he added.
Meanwhile, a senior police official told Channel 14 that authorities were encountering an unusually large number of suspected election disruptions in the Arab sector.
“We are encountering election disruptions on a scale unlike anything we have seen in previous years in the Arab sector,” the senior official said.
“We are trying to deal with all of the incidents. This could be a mega-event that could affect the election.”
Shin Bet chief David Zini, however, stressed Tuesday that despite attempts to interfere with the process, the election itself remains secure.
“The elections in Israel are safe, orderly and supervised in an inspiring manner,” Zini said in a statement at the Central Elections Committee.
“There are challenges and there are those who are trying to interfere, but under the leadership of Justice Solberg and the Israel Police, we are succeeding.”
Police said officers are working throughout Election Day to identify and thwart election offenses and attempts to illegally influence voters.
The operation is part of a nationwide effort ordered by Police Commissioner Daniel Levy to protect the integrity of the election and ensure that voting for the 26th Knesset proceeds without unlawful interference.
“Israel Police will act with determination, in a statesmanlike, equal and impartial manner, against any attempt to harm the integrity of the elections, influence the will of voters through illegal means or disrupt the democratic process,” police said.
The investigation into the suspected vote-buying scheme remains ongoing.
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