26 October 2021•Update: 26 October 2021
JERUSALEM
Two Libyan rivals have hired an Israeli firm registered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to run their election campaigns in the war-torn country, according to Israeli media on Tuesday.
Israel Hayom newspaper said warlord Khalifa Haftar and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi, contracted via agents "an Israeli consulting firm to advise both candidates."
The newspaper, citing senior Gulf figures, said Haftar's son signed the contract with the consulting firm which run successful campaigns in Israel and the world.
The firm “later got a request from the other candidate, through a female model living in Dubai,” the daily said.
According to the newspaper, the Israeli firm registered a new company in the UAE to run and administer both election campaigns via the "two separate entities."
"Both contracts are reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars in fees," Israel Hayom said.
There were no comments from both Haftar and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi on the allegations.
Libya’s presidential and parliamentary elections are set to take place on Dec. 24 under an agreement reached by Libyan political rivals in Tunisia on Nov. 15, 2020.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara
