Suspected Vote Bribery in the Negev: "The Money in the Envelopes Was Meant for Those in Need"

In depth

According to Channel 13 News, the investigation into the suspected forgery and vote bribery in the Bedouin community is continuing, and so far seven suspects have been arrested in the affair. Searches turned up envelopes containing cash, which according to Walla amounted to tens of thousands of shekels. At a court hearing, the judge extended the detention of three residents of the community by five days, and according to Maariv, four other suspects were released to house arrest. According to Maariv, at the hearing the police representative struggled to explain the suspicions, and the judge criticized this but ruled that there was reasonable suspicion.

According to Arutz Sheva, Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf said on Radio B that the Otzma Yehudit party received reports on election day of money being distributed in exchange for votes for Ra'am, and that these were passed on to the relevant authorities. According to Kikar HaShabbat, the opposition is demanding that evidence be presented. According to Arutz Sheva, MK Yitzhak Kroizer and the Otzma Yehudit party appealed to Solberg and Zini demanding an investigation of the suspicions, but these are claims and not investigative findings.