Ayman Odeh, the former leader of the Hadash party and the Joint List of Arab parties, has been identified as the senior Arab lawmaker suspected of receiving hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash from a foreign source. Multiple media outlets, including Kan, Haaretz, and i24News, named Odeh on Wednesday as the individual previously kept anonymous in reports. Shin Bet chief David Zini has reportedly requested permission to question Odeh as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged foreign interference in the October 27 election.
The identification of Odeh follows reports that Zini sought to question other senior Arab politicians, including Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas and Joint List faction leaders Ahmad Tibi and Sami Abou Shahadeh. However, the investigation team indicated that sufficient evidence existed only for Odeh. This move prompted a public statement from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who noted that questioning lawmakers without sufficient evidence is technically illegal. The Shin Bet subsequently clarified that it intended to question associates of the other leaders rather than the leaders themselves.
Political tensions have risen over the integrity of last week's election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud allies have questioned the vote's validity, despite assurances from top judicial and enforcement officials that the suspected actions did not impact the results. On Wednesday, the Central Election Committee announced that its review of protocols from 9,069 polling stations found no irregularities or evidence that the election's integrity was compromised. The committee handed the certified results to President Isaac Herzog.
Despite the official findings, elements of the outgoing government continue to claim the vote was stolen. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stated on Wednesday that Arab party leaders should be arrested and questioned in Shin Bet facilities, a proposal that bypasses standard legal approvals. The fraud allegations initially surfaced on election day, centering on two main suspicions: a vote-buying scheme involving Ra’am activists and a foreign-funded effort, possibly linked to Qatar or Turkey, to boost Arab turnout.
Odeh, who is set to retire from the Knesset when new lawmakers are sworn in next week, responded to the allegations by calling the probe political persecution. In a statement, he said, "The historic turnout among Arab citizens has driven Netanyahu and the fascists out of their minds," adding that fear of losing power was causing the government to fire in every direction. He urged his allies to continue working to replace the current administration.
The Joint List issued a statement supporting its former leader, describing the allegations as a serious escalation in the campaign of incitement against the Arab public. The party accused Zini, who was appointed by Netanyahu, of acting as a political arm for the Prime Minister. The statement highlighted the record turnout among Arab voters, which resulted in Arab-led parties securing a historic high of 19 Knesset seats.
In a related development, Arab journalist Abed Abou Shahadeh, cousin of Balad chief Sami Abou Shahadeh, was arrested overnight and charged with contacting a foreign agent. His identity was initially under a gag order, which the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court later overturned. He is in custody until Sunday after the court reduced his detention period. His defense team stated that the foreign agent is former Balad MK Azmi Bishara, whom Abed Abou Shahadeh interviewed in Doha for a podcast ahead of the election. The legal team argued that the meeting's contents were public and did not involve a conspiracy against Israeli security.
The investigation into the journalist is being conducted jointly by the police and the Shin Bet. While a police representative declined to confirm if Bishara is the specific agent in question, the judge noted that Abed Abou Shahadeh does not hold a government press card and described himself as a political consultant during his interrogation.
