Israeli lawmaker Amit Halevi has accused Iran and Turkey of orchestrating foreign interference aimed at swaying the country's upcoming elections. The parliamentary vote is scheduled for October 27, when voters will elect all 120 members of the Knesset's 26th session.
Halevi, a member of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, raised the alarm in comments to The Jerusalem Post about what he described as a coordinated campaign by hostile foreign powers. He claimed that despite Israel's use of paper ballots, outside actors have found ways to manipulate voting outcomes.
According to Halevi, the interference tactics involve exploiting digital platforms and leveraging financial resources to sway voters. He specifically highlighted funding flowing from abroad—including from "foreign countries and the European Union"—that channels money through Israeli NGOs to influence the electoral process.
Halevi singled out Iran and Turkey as the primary culprits, saying both nations harbour clear ambitions to dominate Middle Eastern affairs. "The two have a part in this context of attempts to influence the elections in Israel," he said.
The lawmaker portrayed both countries as existential threats to the Jewish state. "Both are bitter enemies and have detailed plans for the destruction of Israel," he told reporters, linking their alleged electoral meddling to broader regional tensions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads Likud, the country's largest right-wing nationalist party, and will be a central figure in the October contest.
