Democrats chairman Yair Golan met Thursday with Ra’am chairman and Muslim Brotherhood affiliate Mansour Abbas, as the ballot jihad affair and allegations of election bribery benefiting Abbas’s party continue to unfold.
In a statement released after the meeting, the two said they discussed ways to build a partnership and explore options for forming a “rescue and repair government for Israel.”
The meeting is part of a round of talks Golan has held since the election. He previously met with Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Lapid. Golan and Lapid’s offices said their meeting focused on coordinating moves.
Golan already voiced support during the campaign for forming a government with Ra’am. He called Abbas a “good partner” and said a Jewish-Arab partnership in government would be a positive step. After the results were published, he called on his bloc partners to “recalculate the route” and act using the political cards they hold.
Seven Suspects in Ballot Jihad Affair
The meeting took place while police are investigating suspected election bribery for Ra’am. Seven suspects have been arrested so far, including three school principals from Tel Sheva and Segev Shalom.
In the homes of some suspects, police found envelopes containing tens of thousands of shekels in cash, alongside Ra’am ballot slips. Police suspect the money was intended for distribution to citizens in exchange for voting for the party. One suspect countered that the funds were donations meant for needy families. The investigation has been transferred to Lahav 433 and the allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Meanwhile, the Shin Bet is conducting a separate investigation into suspected foreign interference and illegal funding of activity aimed at influencing voting in Arab society. Central Elections Committee chairman Judge Noam Solberg ordered Shin Bet chief David Zini to examine the suspicions and present findings within a week.
The Shin Bet emphasized that these are two separate affairs and that the investigation has not yet concluded. They also clarified that no aspersions should be cast on Arab society as a whole and that “only those who acted contrary to law will be dealt with.”
Ra’am Denies Connection to Allegations
Abbas said Ra’am welcomes the decision to investigate the foreign interference allegations. According to him, his party has no connection to the foreign funding investigation or other affairs and will cooperate with law enforcement.
Meanwhile, Likud is preparing to petition to disqualify results in ballot boxes where it claims suspicions arose of election bribery or use of illegal means. The party is demanding repeat elections in those boxes. The demand has not yet been decided, and it has not been determined that votes there were obtained illegally.
Despite the investigations and the possibility of legal proceedings against results from certain ballot boxes, political contacts continue. Golan and Abbas are seeking to explore forming a joint government, while the scope of the suspicions, the possible connection to the election, and their impact on the results are still being examined.