Mossad to assist Shin Bet in probe into alleged foreign interference in Israel election

ISRAEL: The intelligence agency Mossad will assist the internal security service Shin Bet in investigating alleged foreign interference in the country’s elections. Israeli media reports said the decision emerged on Friday.

According to the reports, Mossad will help with matters that fall within its remit. These include the possibility that Qatar made payments to the administrative structure of the Joint List. According to Haaretz, the investigation will also look at the possible role of countries other than Qatar.

Shin Bet is investigating suspicions that money from abroad was used to mobilise voters. According to The Jerusalem Post, the investigation is examining the role of foreign elements, including Qatar and Turkey, and whether they sent money to influence voting in Arab communities. The action began on the directive of Justice Noam Sohlberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee.

In a recorded statement, Acting Director General Dan Levanon said the head of Shin Bet had given classified information to the committee chairman a day earlier, on which the investigation began. He said that, with the chairman’s approval, the main points were also shared with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid and Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party.

Levanon said that because the information was highly classified, very few people had access to it. He said the investigation was not focused on any particular community and that the election results presented to the president would not change. He described some reports published during the day as baseless.

According to Haaretz, a source familiar with the matter said the affair appeared to be limited in nature and its impact, if any, would be small. When the investigation is complete, its findings will be presented to the committee chairman. The committee has promised to inform the public soon, within the limits of security restrictions.