A journalistic investigation has brought to light that the office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu took part in the preparation of a fabricated case that led to the detention of three activists from the Arab-Israeli party Raam on October 27, coinciding with the legislative elections in Israel, with the aim of linking the Arab community to alleged electoral fraud.
According to the probe by Channel 12 of Israeli television, which cites a senior official from the security forces, a member of Netanyahu’s team, Ido Norden, passed an intelligence source to the Police—an former worker of the prime minister’s office—which triggered searches and arrests based on allegations that later were shown to be unfounded. Netanyahu himself spread these suspicions during the voting day.
At least 14 agents broke into the homes of Raam activists in the south of the country without a court order. Among those arrested is the doctor Sayaf Abu Riash, a resident of Rahat. In the recording of the operation, his wife, Miriam, can be heard asking the agents whether they had a court order or an arrest warrant. Abu Riash regained his freedom six days later, when he could no longer exercise his right to vote.
The head of Israel’s intelligence services, David Zini, even arrived at requesting wiretaps against five Arab-Israeli lawmakers for alleged foreign interference in the elections, but the Prosecution blocked the request.
At this time, investigators are analyzing whether intelligence information was deliberately provided in order to justify these daytime electoral detentions.
"Chief of staff Ido Norden had access to criminal information and, in carrying out his duty as would be expected of any law-abiding and concerned citizen, put that person in contact with the Police," the Netanyahu office said when these revelations were brought to them, also warning of a possible "libel".