Election Eve: Cash and Ballots Found in Negev Homes

Israeli police seized tens of thousands of shekels in cash from three residents of the Negev region on Tuesday, the eve of national elections. The arrests occurred four hours before voting stations opened, according to official announcements.

Officers detained the three men, two from Segev Shalom and one from Ar’ara BaNegev, on suspicion of attempting to bribe voters for the Ra'am party. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspects held envelopes containing cash and ballots designated for Mansour Abbas. Netanyahu called for a formal investigation into the incident.

The Ra'am party challenged the narrative surrounding the arrests. Party officials stated that the activists' conduct was proper and accused the police force under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of attempting to suppress Arab voting. The party emphasized that the suspects were not caught in the immediate vicinity of polling stations or near arriving voters.

Police searched the suspects' homes and recovered the cash, notes, and other items linked to the investigation. The three individuals were transferred to the Southern District’s Fraud Unit for questioning. They are scheduled to appear in court today as police request an extension of their detention. Netanyahu also urged right-wing and Likud supporters to cast their ballots for the Likud party to preserve electoral integrity.