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Economy Minister Barkat hires private investigators to ensure there is no fraud at Likud primaries

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat hired private investigators to monitor the Likud party's primaries for potential fraud.
  • Barkat's team aims to correct any wrongdoing, pass findings to authorities, and bring culprits to justice.
  • Sources suggest this move is linked to perceived animosity from Prime Minister Netanyahu's associates within the Likud party.

Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat has employed a team of private investigators to ensure the integrity of the Likud party's primaries, amid fears of potential fraud. Sources close to the minister revealed that the investigation team includes field personnel stationed at numerous polling stations nationwide, with a particular focus on the central counting facility where voting data is processed.

Some members of the investigative team are reportedly equipped with recording devices to gather real-time evidence should suspicions of fraud, bias, or irregularities arise during the vote count. This proactive measure underscores the high stakes involved for Barkat, who has faced political challenges within the party. People close to Barkat believe that figures affiliated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within the Likud decided to end his political career after the primaries.

Anyone who thinks it's possible to play with votes, the count, or the results should know that this time there is someone watching, recording, and checking.

— Source involved in the matterA source close to Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat described the purpose of hiring private investigators for the Likud primaries.

A source involved in the matter stated that the objective is not only to rectify any discovered wrongdoing but also to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. "Anyone who thinks it's possible to play with votes, the count, or the results should know that this time there is someone watching, recording, and checking," the source said. "If wrongdoing is discovered, the goal will be not only to correct the result but also to ensure that those responsible for it are brought to justice."

Barkat's decision to hire investigators comes after he was accused of attempting a coup against Prime Minister Netanyahu following an unspecified event on October 7. This has reportedly led to him being targeted by Netanyahu and his associates within the party, fueling concerns about his political future and the fairness of the upcoming primaries.

If wrongdoing is discovered, the goal will be not only to correct the result but also to ensure that those responsible for it are brought to justice.

— Source involved in the matterA source close to Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat explained the intended actions if fraud is detected during the Likud primaries.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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