Israel’s Security Agency Finds No Proof of Foreign Election Meddling

Israel’s Shin Bet security service has failed to produce any evidence that foreign money was used to influence the country’s recent parliamentary vote, despite weeks of investigation.

Shin Bet Comes Up Empty On Interference Claims

Israel’s Shin Bet security service could not provide evidence of outside interference in the elections through financial transfers, the Times of Israel reported on Monday, citing senior law enforcement officials.

Back in November, public broadcaster Kan reported that Shin Bet had briefed the Central Elections Committee on its investigation into suspected foreign meddling in the recent parliamentary elections. The agency claimed large sums of money had flowed into Israel from foreign states with the goal of swaying the vote’s outcome.

No Evidence Backs Up The Suspicions

According to the Monday report, which quoted senior law enforcement sources, Shin Bet was unable to produce any evidence supporting suspicions of a foreign interference campaign during the recent elections.

The publication noted that investigators are currently looking into a possible transfer of no more than a few tens of thousands of dollars to Arab parties from the Palestinian National Authority. Even after questioning dozens of people, though, officials found nothing to back up the claim.

“All we have is intelligence information that has no real basis behind it,” an official told the newspaper.

The Investigation Began In October

Shin Bet launched its probe into the alleged election interference back in October. Investigators suspected that certain Arab states, acting through civil society groups, had funneled money into Israel’s Arab sector to boost voter turnout among Arab Israelis.

In the end, Arab parties won a record 19 seats in Israel’s 120 seat parliament. Voter turnout in the Arab sector also outpaced turnout across Israel as a whole.