Tel Aviv: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called for a full investigation into allegations of irregularities linked to the country’s recent elections, stressing that anyone found responsible must be held accountable under the law.&nbsp;Speaking on Thursday, October 29, at an event at the President’s Residence honouring the Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Small Business Loan Fund, Herzog described the moment as sensitive and said the integrity of elections was a fundamental democratic value.&nbsp;Herzog said he had spoken with Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg and Shin Bet chief David Zini, and was closely following developments in the investigation into allegations published earlier in the morning.&nbsp;“The evidence and the allegations must be fully investigated, and those responsible must be arrested and held accountable according to the full extent of the law,” Herzog said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ra-amgate-an-earthquake-arab-parties-want-islamisation-of-israel-says-netanyahu-1793270521942">‘Ra’amgate an earthquake. Arab parties want Islamisation of Israel,’ says Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;The president, however, cautioned against holding an entire community responsible for the alleged actions of individuals, emphasising that Arab citizens had the democratic right to vote and participate in public life.&nbsp;His remarks come as Israel navigates the aftermath of a closely contested election, with questions surrounding the allegations adding to an already sensitive political atmosphere. The claims remain allegations and must be established through the investigation.&nbsp;Herzog also urged political leaders to prioritise the country’s interests as the process of forming the next government approaches.&nbsp;He said he would meet representatives of all Knesset factions once the official election results were received, ahead of consultations next week.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-ally-fla-vio-bolsonaro-arrives-in-miami-with-family-after-fleeing-brazil-1793204345550">Trump ally Flávio Bolsonaro arrives in Miami with family after fleeing Brazil</a>&nbsp;Calling on political leaders to look beyond their immediate interests, Herzog said the central question should be what is best for the country.&nbsp;On the other hand, the election count continues to leave Israel facing a complicated path towards forming its next government.&nbsp;&nbsp;Current projections put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political bloc at 53 seats, against 48 for the opposition, while Arab-led parties account for the remaining 19 seats.&nbsp;&nbsp;With 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset, coalition negotiations are likely to be decisive.&nbsp;&nbsp;The evolving numbers also differ from the initial exit-poll estimates, underlining why provisional counts must be distinguished from final results.

President Isaac Herzog cautioned against holding an entire community responsible for the alleged actions of individuals, emphasising that Arab citizens had the democratic right to vote. He also urged leaders to prioritise the country’s interests in the process of forming the next government.

Tel Aviv: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called for a full investigation into allegations of irregularities linked to the country’s recent elections, stressing that anyone found responsible must be held accountable under the law. Speaking on Thursday, October 29, at an event at the President’s Residence honouring the Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Small Business Loan Fund, Herzog described the moment as sensitive and said the integrity of elections was a fundamental democratic value. Herzog said he had spoken with Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg and Shin Bet chief David Zini, and was closely following developments in the investigation into allegations published earlier in the morning. “The evidence and the allegations must be fully investigated, and those responsible must be arrested and held accountable according to the full extent of the law,” Herzog said. Also Read: ‘Ra’amgate an earthquake. Arab parties want Islamisation of Israel,’ says Netanyahu The president, however, cautioned against holding an entire community responsible for the alleged actions of individuals, emphasising that Arab citizens had the democratic right to vote and participate in public life. His remarks come as Israel navigates the aftermath of a closely contested election, with questions surrounding the allegations adding to an already sensitive political atmosphere. The claims remain allegations and must be established through the investigation. Herzog also urged political leaders to prioritise the country’s interests as the process of forming the next government approaches. He said he would meet representatives of all Knesset factions once the official election results were received, ahead of consultations next week. Also Read: Trump ally Flávio Bolsonaro arrives in Miami with family after fleeing Brazil Calling on political leaders to look beyond their immediate interests, Herzog said the central question should be what is best for the country. On the other hand, the election count continues to leave Israel facing a complicated path towards forming its next government. Current projections put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political bloc at 53 seats, against 48 for the opposition, while Arab-led parties account for the remaining 19 seats. With 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset, coalition negotiations are likely to be decisive. The evolving numbers also differ from the initial exit-poll estimates, underlining why provisional counts must be distinguished from final results.

President Isaac Herzog cautioned against holding an entire community responsible for the alleged actions of individuals, emphasising that Arab citizens had the democratic right to vote. He also urged leaders to prioritise the country’s interests in the process of forming the next government.

Israel President Herzog calls for probe into election allegations, warns against blaming Arab community

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Ra’amgate affair is an “earthquake” and accused foreign entities of interfering in the electoral process and bribing voters in favour of Arab parties. Ra’amgate refers to the allegations of vote-buying involving the Arab party Ra’am during Israel’s October 27 parliamentary election.&nbsp;Israel’s Central Elections Committee ordered an investigation into allegations of foreign funding into Tuesday’s voting. CEC Chair Justice Noam Sohlberg asked Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate allegations of foreign interference in Tuesday’s election.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Serious suspicions have been brought to my attention regarding improper influence on the elections — exerted through funding provided by foreign entities acting against Israeli interests,” Sohlberg wrote to Shin Bet.Sohlberg has asked Shin Bet to present the findings of the investigation within a week.Netanyahu called on the Zionist parties to reject any tie-up with Arab parties after allegations of foreign funding of polls.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">הודעת הליכוד: 

פרשת רע״מגייט היא רעידת אדמה. גנבו את הבחירות בישראל!

הדברים של השופט סולברג על מעורבות של גורמים זרים שהתערבו ושיחדו מצביעים לטובת המפלגות הערביות הם טלטלה חסרת תקדים. 

מדובר בפיגוע בדמוקרטיה שמטרתו להוביל להשתלטות זרה על הכנסת, לאיסלאמיזציה של ישראל, ולהפלת שלטון הימין כדי להוביל לנסיגה ותבוסת צה״ל בכל הזירות - ובראשן איראן.

אחרי שהתברר שגורמים זרים ניסו להשתלט על הכנסת ברור שאסור לאף מפלגה ציונית לשתף פעולה עם רע״מ והמשותפת, להחליף את יו״ר הכנסת באמצעות קולות שנקנו במזומן, ולהקים ממשלה מסוכנת לישראל. 

אנו דורשים לפעול מייד ובכל האמצעים הקיימים בידי השב״כ והמשטרה כדי לחקור את הפשעים הללו.&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2115722110601486351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-ally-fla-vio-bolsonaro-arrives-in-miami-with-family-after-fleeing-brazil-1793204345550">Trump ally Flávio Bolsonaro arrives in Miami with family after fleeing Brazil</a>&nbsp;Netanyahu said in a post on X, “The Ra’amgate affair is an earthquake. They stole the elections in Israel! The judge Solberg’s statements about the involvement of foreign entities that interfered and bribed voters in favour of the Arab parties are an unprecedented shock. This is an attack on democracy whose purpose is to lead to a foreign takeover of the Knesset, the Islamization of Israel, and the overthrow of right-wing rule in order to lead to the retreat and defeat of the IDF in all arenas – and primarily Iran.”&nbsp;<h2>‘No Zionist party should cooperate with Ra’am and Joint List’</h2>&nbsp;“After it was revealed that foreign entities tried to take over the Knesset, it is clear that no Zionist party should cooperate with Ra’am and the Joint List, replace the Knesset Speaker through votes bought for cash, and form a government that is dangerous to Israel. We demand to act immediately and with all means available to the Shin Bet and the police to investigate these crimes,” Netanyahu added.&nbsp;Israel’s incumbent Finance Minister and Chairman of the Religious Zionism Party Bezalel Smotrich called for interrogation of the heads of the Arab parties. Smotrich said, “The suspicion of election interference with foreign Islamist money is a litmus test for the State of Israel. The heads of the Arab parties must be interrogated by the Shin Bet today. The State of Israel will not be sold to radical Islam with terrorist money.”&nbsp;<h2>‘Arrest Arab party bosses,’ says Ben Gvir</h2>&nbsp;Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir called for the arrest of the Arab party bosses and alleged involvement of money from Qatar.“The Shin Bet must order, already this morning, the arrest of the heads of the Arab parties suspected of involvement in Qatari money, and of all other suspects in the affair, including figures in the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots, insofar as there is a legal basis for their arrest,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-2026-what-would-ramaswamy-s-win-mean-for-the-indian-diaspora-1793215021238">US Midterms 2026: What would Ramaswamy’s win mean for the Indian diaspora</a>&nbsp;Opposition bloc leader Gadi Eisenkot however, cautioned against using the investigation to delay the inauguration of the new Knesset.The Gadi Eisenkot-led bloc doesn’t have the votes to form a government on its own, but would be above the requisite 61 seats if it partners with the two Arab parties, or forms a minority government with their support.&nbsp;<h2>Four arrested for allegedly bribing voters</h2>&nbsp;Four men were arrested this morning and are being interrogated by the Lahav 433 major crimes unit on suspicion of involvement in an alleged scheme to bribe voters, police say.The scheme is the same one that led police to arrest three southern Bedouin men at dawn on Tuesday, election day, for allegedly planning to pay off people to vote for Ra’am, according to police.Ra’am has identified the men as party activists and denied the allegations.It is unclear if the incident is connected to the Shin Bet investigation into alleged election interference by a foreign entity.

Israel’s Central Elections Committee ordered an investigation into allegations of foreign funding into October 27 voting. CEC Chair Justice Noam Sohlberg asked Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate allegations of foreign interference in Tuesday’s election. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Ra’amgate affair is an “earthquake” and accused foreign entities of interfering in the electoral process and bribing voters in favour of Arab parties. Ra’amgate refers to the allegations of vote-buying involving the Arab party Ra’am during Israel’s October 27 parliamentary election. Israel’s Central Elections Committee ordered an investigation into allegations of foreign funding into Tuesday’s voting. CEC Chair Justice Noam Sohlberg asked Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate allegations of foreign interference in Tuesday’s election. “Serious suspicions have been brought to my attention regarding improper influence on the elections — exerted through funding provided by foreign entities acting against Israeli interests,” Sohlberg wrote to Shin Bet. Sohlberg has asked Shin Bet to present the findings of the investigation within a week. Netanyahu called on the Zionist parties to reject any tie-up with Arab parties after allegations of foreign funding of polls.

Israel’s Central Elections Committee ordered an investigation into allegations of foreign funding into October 27 voting. CEC Chair Justice Noam Sohlberg asked Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate allegations of foreign interference in Tuesday’s election.&nbsp;

‘Ra’amgate an earthquake. Arab parties want Islamisation of Israel,’ says Netanyahu

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Israel President Herzog calls for probe into election allegations, warns against blaming Arab community

‘Ra’amgate an earthquake. Arab parties want Islamisation of Israel’: Netanyahu