Israeli Court Releases Most Suspects in Voter-Bribery Probe

Israeli courts eased restrictions on several people detained in a suspected voter-bribery investigation, including releasing two of three initial suspects and lifting restrictions on another detainee. Police said cash and Ra’am ballots were found and alleged the suspects were linked to the party, which denies involvement; the suspects’ lawyers also dispute the allegations. The court criticized aspects of the investigation and declined to grant some police requests for continued restrictions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has cited the arrests while alleging, without presenting evidence, that Arab-led parties stole the election; Ra’am’s leader called the arrests undemocratic. The allegations have become politically charged as opposition parties and Arab-led parties could together have enough seats to form a government, though whether they can agree on a coalition remains uncertain.