Daijiworld Media Network - Doha

Doha, Oct 30: Qatar has categorically rejected allegations that it interfered in Israel’s parliamentary elections or funded activities aimed at influencing the outcome, accusing Israeli politicians and media figures of launching a disinformation campaign to draw Doha into the country’s domestic political disputes.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the accusations were baseless and described them as an attempt by certain Israeli political figures to shift attention away from their own political setbacks.

The allegations emerged following Israel’s October 27 parliamentary elections, in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc fell short of securing a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Preliminary results showed Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, while the main opposition bloc secured 48. Arab-led parties won a combined 19 seats.

Some Israeli politicians and media outlets alleged that Qatar had provided financial support to Arab parties and organisations involved in efforts to increase voter turnout. Doha firmly denied the claims.

Al-Ansari said Qatar had been accused at different times of influencing Netanyahu, the Israeli political left and, more recently, Arab voters. He questioned the credibility of the allegations and warned against using Qatar as a scapegoat for domestic political failures.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Abdulla Bandar al-Etaibi, an assistant professor of international affairs at Qatar University, said Netanyahu and his allies were attempting to deflect attention from their political difficulties and foreign policy setbacks.

Al-Etaibi argued that growing opposition to Netanyahu reflected dissatisfaction among Israeli voters with his leadership and policies rather than interference by an outside country. He said the allegations of foreign involvement provided Netanyahu's camp with a way to explain its electoral difficulties.

He also criticised the Israeli government's policies in Gaza and across the region, arguing that the pursuit of escalation had contributed to regional instability.

Meanwhile, Israel's Central Elections Committee said the voting process had been conducted lawfully and that polling-station integrity had been safeguarded. The allegations of foreign interference had also prompted calls for an investigation by Israel's domestic security agency, Shin Bet.

Al-Ansari reiterated that Qatar had no involvement in Israel's political or electoral competition and would not accept attempts to involve it in domestic political disputes.

He added that the accusations would not affect Qatar's role as a regional mediator or its diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, including support for the Palestinian people and initiatives aimed at promoting regional stability.