The result of the elections in Israel is not called into question by suspicions of fraud, says the chairman of the electoral commission

The results of Israel’s legislative election will not be invalidated by any reported irregularities, Electoral Commission chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg said Sunday. He confirmed, however, that allegations involving foreign funding and vote-buying are being investigated.

The suspicions focus particularly on the Arab parties Raam and the United List, which won a combined 19 seats in last Tuesday’s election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp claims that the two parties received money from Qatar to buy votes. Doha and the accused parties have rejected the allegations.

Sohlberg said the investigation will also examine the possible security implications of the funding, but stressed that this must not discredit the vote of the Arab community. He added that, regardless of the investigation’s conclusions, the legality of the electoral process and the overall results are not in question.

Police arrested three people on election day who were carrying envelopes and cash. On Sunday, one suspect was released, while another had his pretrial detention extended and a third was placed under house arrest.

Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats, compared with 48 for Gadi Eisenkot’s camp. Neither bloc has the 61-seat majority. The official results are due to be announced Wednesday and transmitted to President Isaac Herzog, who will begin consultations on forming a government.