The Central Elections Committee approved the election results, which have been submitted to President Isaac Herzog. Otzma Yehudit’s representatives were the only members to vote against approval; the remaining coalition representatives abstained.
The committee reported finding no evidence of election fraud. Committee Chairman Justice Solberg said the suspicions under investigation, even if confirmed, would have a limited impact and should not call the elections’ overall integrity into question.
“The voices seeking to cast doubt on the election results pose a real danger,” he warned.
The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) described suspected foreign funding and influence operations requiring further investigation. In an update to committee members, the agency said its intelligence allegedly indicated that large sums had entered Israel from foreign countries through individuals or entities with concealed, potentially hostile interests.
The agency assessed that the suspected activity involved thousands of people, possibly more. It stressed that additional intelligence gathering and investigative work were needed to establish the full scope with confidence. These suspicions remain distinct from the committee’s finding that no election fraud had been established.
Dispute over evidence and investigative approvals
i24NEWS reported that Shin Bet Director David Zini is seeking to question four senior Arab politicians under caution as criminal suspects: Ta’al Chairman Ahmad Tibi, Ra’am Chairman Mansour Abbas, Balad Chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, and an unnamed senior Knesset member whose identity cannot legally be published.
The report described significant evidence against the unnamed lawmaker. It said Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had requested the evidence before approving questioning but had received it only in that individual’s case.
A joint Shin Bet and police investigative team has been established following Solberg’s recommendation, under the supervision of the State Attorney’s Office. The initial report said the Shin Bet had not transferred the relevant materials two days after the agreement, preventing the investigation from beginning. The Shin Bet, police and Attorney General’s Office initially provided no comment.
Baharav-Miara subsequently rejected claims that she was obstructing the investigation. Her office said citizens and elected officials could be investigated only where an evidentiary basis justified it:
“Anyone who needs to be investigated will be investigated, but no one will be investigated without an evidentiary basis.”
Her office also said the Shin Bet’s failure to transfer its materials to the joint team for two days was delaying the matter. In a later statement, it said significant investigative measures requested by the Shin Bet had already been approved and that the joint team would pursue the remaining investigation as quickly as possible.
Amit Segal reported that Zini accused the Attorney General of obstructing the investigation during a meeting in Solberg’s office.
Senior Shin Bet officials, responding to legal advisers, alleged in a report by N12’s Yolan Cohen and Amit Segal that restrictions intended to protect Knesset members were being applied broadly to people who might incriminate them.
Those officials also claimed that police had refused to arrest anyone in the affair. Their allegations were disputed by the Attorney General’s account of approved investigative measures.
High Court rejects State Comptroller election petition
The High Court of Justice rejected a petition against the Knesset Speaker, declining to require him to set a date for the election of the State Comptroller.
