Report: Sohlberg orders investigation into suspected Qatari election bribery

According to an N12 report, Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg instructed the Shin Bet chief to investigate suspected foreign funding and election bribery involving Qatar and submit findings within a week.

The report says Shin Bet chief David Zini presented Sohlberg with information about suspected transfers of Qatari funds to raise turnout in Arab society through illegal means. The information and suspicions have not been conclusively established, and the report does not establish that votes were bought or a particular party committed an offense.

N12 reported that Sohlberg wrote that he could not attest to the merits of the suspicions and requested evidence to substantiate or refute them. He asked for any findings within a week. The Yashar party said every complaint should be examined thoroughly and election integrity protected, while preventing political exploitation of the situation or interference with the date of the Knesset's swearing-in.