Qatar Denies Funding: Israel Election Dispute
Doha rejects claims that it bankrolled Arab voter turnout in Israel's contested parliamentary vote, where partial results show Netanyahu's bloc lacking a majority.
By Kwame Silva ·
Two Arab lists secured a record number of seats in the Israeli Knesset according to partial results from Tuesday's parliamentary elections. The surge in representation occurred even as Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and its media allies accused Qatar of funding get-out-the-vote drives for these parties. Doha rejected the claims on Thursday, calling them a disinformation campaign.
Majed al-Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Doha has no involvement in the political or electoral competition in Israel. He described the accusations as ridiculous and dangerous, noting that if the claims were true, Qatar would effectively own all of Israel. The spokesperson said the country should not be used as a scapegoat for the political failures of Israeli leaders.
The accusations are part of a long-running Israeli campaign against Qatar. Netanyahu previously claimed his forces attacked Qatar in September 2025 during the war in Gaza. Israeli influence experts and advisers also conducted a secret campaign targeting Doha in the weeks following the October 7, 2023, attacks. Al-Ansari noted that some politicians accuse Qatar of buying off the political left and now the Arab vote, but he maintained that these remain internal Israeli matters.
Despite the public dispute, the integrity of the vote remains officially intact. Dean Livine, the acting director for Israel’s Central Elections Committee, wrote in a letter to a member of parliament that the elections were conducted lawfully. He stated that the integrity of the elections at polling stations was rigorously safeguarded, rejecting allegations of foreign interference.
The partial results indicate that Netanyahu’s bloc will not secure a majority in the Knesset. The two Arab lists gained record support, yet main parties have rejected the idea of partnering with them. This outcome has intensified the rhetoric surrounding the role of external actors in the voting process.
Qatar continues to act as a key mediator in regional conflicts. Doha played a central role in talks to halt the war in Gaza and is currently leading mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran regarding the war on Iran. Al-Ansari said the latest accusations would not distract Doha from its diplomatic and humanitarian efforts or its support for the Palestinian people.
The Qatari spokesperson urged Israeli politicians to focus on their own voters and improve everyday lives instead of shifting attention abroad. He reiterated that Doha would not accept any attempt to draw the country into its domestic political disputes.
