The denial comes as Israel’s Shin Bet investigates claims of Qatari influence in Tuesday’s polls. The agency has been asked to submit its findings within a week.

In an official statement posted on X, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari rejected allegations that Doha had funded activities intended to influence the election outcome. He warned that Qatar would not remain silent while being drawn into Israel’s internal political disputes.

“We categorically deny allegations that Qatar has interfered in Israeli elections or funded any activities intended to influence their outcome,” Al Ansari said.

He accused certain Israeli politicians and their media contacts of launching “yet another disinformation campaign” to drag Qatar into political disputes following this week’s elections.

Qatar rejects allegations of political interference

Al Ansari said Qatar had repeatedly been targeted by accusations from across Israel’s political spectrum.

“They accuse Qatar of buying off Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli political left and now, in this latest campaign, the Arab vote. If these claims were to be believed, Qatar would apparently own all of Israel,” he said.

Describing the allegations as “ridiculous and dangerous in equal measure”, the spokesman said they reflected an “excessive obsession” with Qatar.

He also rejected attempts to make Doha a “scapegoat” for the political failures of Israeli leaders, urging them to focus instead on improving the lives of their own citizens.

“Qatar should not be used as a scapegoat for the political failures of certain Israeli politicians,” Al Ansari said.

“Rather than trying to shift attention onto Qatar, they would be better off focusing on their own voters, improving people’s everyday lives, and undoing the damage they’ve created in the region.”

Reiterating Doha’s policy of non-intervention, he said Qatar had no role in Israel’s political or electoral contest and would not accept attempts to involve it in domestic disputes.

“We reiterate that we have no involvement in Israel’s political or electoral competition. These are internal Israeli matters in which we do not interfere, and we will not accept any attempt to draw Qatar into its domestic political disputes,” he said.

Qatar calls on new Israeli government to uphold Palestinian rights

Al Ansari also set out Qatar’s expectations of any administration formed after the elections, saying it must comply with international law and address the rights of the Palestinian people.

“Any government emerging from these elections must uphold international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, engage seriously and honestly on the Palestinian issue, and respect the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to self-determination and an independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

He added that meeting these obligations “requires responsibility and accountability”.

The spokesman said the allegations would not deter Qatar from its diplomatic and humanitarian work in the region, its support for Palestinians or its efforts to promote peace and stability.

“None of this will distract us from our important role as a mediator, our diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, our support for the Palestinian people, or our commitment to a just and comprehensive peace and regional stability,” Al Ansari said.

He added that Doha would continue working with regional and international partners to resolve ongoing conflicts through diplomacy.

“We will not remain silent while Qatar’s name is exploited to serve electoral agendas or narrow political interests,” he said.

Netanyahu calls controversy an ‘Earthquake’

In Israel, the allegations have triggered a political controversy, with incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing the affair as an “earthquake”.

Netanyahu alleged that foreign entities had interfered in the elections in favour of Arab parties. He also called on Zionist parties to reject cooperation with Ra’am and the Joint List.

Incumbent Minister of National Security and Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir called for the arrest of Arab party leaders, alleging that Qatari money was involved.

“The Shin Bet must order, already this morning, the arrest of the heads of the Arab parties suspected of involvement in Qatari money, and of all other suspects in the affair, including figures in the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots, insofar as there is a legal basis for their arrest,” Ben Gvir said.

The investigation into alleged foreign funding linked to Arab parties could deal a major blow to the prospect of those parties joining the bloc led by Eisenkot to form a government.

With the probe underway, the process of government formation is now on a knife’s edge. Whoever President Herzog invites to form the next government is likely to face a difficult task.

(with ANI inputs)