Israel seeks to question Arab politicians over election interference claims

Israel's internal security service chief David Zini has requested authorization from the Attorney General to interrogate four Arab politicians, including Raam party leader Mansur Abbas, over alleged election interference. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara responded that interrogating citizens or elected officials without justifying evidence is impossible in a rule-of-law state, urging Shin Bet to present its proof. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party accused her of obstructing the investigation into alleged foreign interference. The opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu and Likud of attacking democracy and the rule of law, attributing their actions to desperation over coalition-building difficulties. The case, dubbed "Ra'amgate," follows election commission statements about alleged foreign actors, though fraud claims were later dismissed.