Freed suspect in alleged Ra’am vote-buying scheme: Cop asked why Arabs are unhappy with Ben Gvir, ‘he’s done only good by you’

A Bedouin doctor arrested on election day over an alleged vote-buying scheme for the Ra'am party was released unconditionally. He said a police officer told him that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has done 'only good' for Arab society, which he saw as political persecution. Election officials have confirmed the vote was valid despite the probe.

A Bedouin doctor arrested on election day over an alleged vote-buying scheme for the Ra'am party was released unconditionally by a court. In an interview, Saef Abu Reash said a police officer told him that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has done 'only good' for Arab society, a claim that contrasts with the minister's record of increased demolitions of Bedouin homes and rising homicide rates in Arab communities. Abu Reash, who led a get-out-the-vote effort in Rahat, said investigators showed no evidence of vote-buying but asked whom he encouraged people to vote for. He described his arrest as 'pure political persecution.' His lawyer said Abu Reash was not a Ra'am activist but advocated for voting to change the 'very difficult reality in Arab society.' The article also notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has seized on the allegations to cast doubt on election results, but election officials have confirmed the vote was conducted properly.

Freed suspect in alleged Ra’am vote-buying scheme: Cop asked why Arabs are unhappy with Ben Gvir, ‘he’s done only good by you’