Three suspects were arrested in southern Israel overnight Monday on suspicion of attempting to bribe voters with cash in exchange for supporting the Arab Ra'am party in Tuesday's election for Israel's 26th Knesset, police said.
The suspects, residents of the Segev Shalom area and Ar'ara in the Negev, were detained during an operation by the Southern District's Central Unit. Police said searches of their homes uncovered envelopes containing tens of thousands of shekels in cash, along with ballot slips and other evidence suspected of being connected to the alleged election offenses.
According to police, the money was allegedly intended for distribution to voters in exchange for casting their ballots for Ra'am. Officers had earlier reported seizing envelopes bearing the party's logo. The police statement did not allege that the party's leadership was involved in the suspected scheme.
The three suspects were transferred for questioning by the Southern District's fraud investigation unit and are expected to appear in court Tuesday, where police will request extensions of their detention as the investigation continues.
Police said the operation was part of nationwide efforts to prevent election offenses and ensure that citizens can exercise their voting rights freely. The investigation remains ongoing.