From Qatar to Gaza, and from Gaza to the ballot box? The questions Netanyahu must answer | Dvir Kariv
Dvir Kariv asks why no one was surprised by the flow of Qatari money to Gaza, and demands answers from Netanyahu and the Shin Bet regarding suspicions of foreign interference in the elections. The article warns of eroding public trust in democracy and calls for safeguarding the purity of elections.
Dvir Kariv, in an opinion piece in Maariv, asks why no one was surprised by the flow of Qatari money to Gaza, noting that for years, under Netanyahu's leadership, suitcases of cash were transferred from Qatar to Hamas as part of the 'Hamas is deterred' policy. Kariv argues that the threat to state sovereignty does not begin with tanks but with money crossing borders and influencing decisions. He demands answers from Netanyahu, responsible for the policy, and from the Shin Bet, tasked with protecting democratic order. The article asks where the intelligence, warning, and prevention were if millions from Qatar were indeed funneled to influence elections. Kariv warns that democracy also dies when citizens stop believing in election results, and states that those who undermine public trust in results are playing with fire. He concludes that the security of democracy rests on internal resilience, social cohesion, and maintaining the purity of elections.