Qatar rejects claims of funding in Israel's tight vote
Doha denies sending money to Arab parties as Netanyahu’s bloc faces a likely minority in the Knesset.
By Andrew Yang ·
Qatar has officially denied allegations that it funded get-out-the-vote drives for Arab parties in Israel. The statement came as partial results from Tuesday’s parliamentary elections showed the Prime Minister’s bloc failing to secure a majority in the Knesset.
The dispute began after Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and associated media outlets accused Doha of sending money to influence the vote. No evidence was presented to support these claims. The accusations appeared as the two Arab lists secured a record number of seats, though major parties have rejected partnering with them.
This marks the latest chapter in a long-standing friction between the two nations. In September 2025, Israeli forces attacked Qatar during the war in Gaza. Earlier, in the weeks following the October 7, 2023, attacks, Israeli advisers worked on a secret campaign targeting Doha. Netanyahu has previously discussed these actions publicly.
Majed al-Ansari, the spokesman for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the new claims on Thursday. He posted on X that Qatar rejects the accusations from certain Israeli politicians and their media contacts. He described the campaign as an effort to drag Qatar into Israeli political disputes.
Al-Ansari called the claims ridiculous and dangerous. He noted that if the accusations were true, Qatar would apparently own all of Israel. He argued that politicians should focus on improving everyday lives for voters rather than using Doha as a scapegoat for their political failures.
Dean Livine, the acting director for Israel’s Central Elections Committee, also weighed in. In a letter to a member of the Knesset, he stated that the elections were conducted lawfully. He said the integrity of the polling stations was rigorously safeguarded, effectively rejecting the idea of foreign interference.
Qatar continues to act as a key mediator in the region. Doha played a central role in talks to halt the war in Gaza. It is also leading mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran regarding the conflict with Iran. Al-Ansari said the latest accusations would not distract Doha from these diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.
