Elections Committee Official Contradicts Netanyahu on Security Threats

By אמיר אטינגר

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Hebrew · 2 newsrooms covering

Plus

Dean Livne, acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, stated that no concrete security warnings have been received regarding pre-election attacks, contradicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Livne assured that elections will proceed as planned, with security measures in place and cooperation from agencies like the Shin Bet to counter foreign influence and disinformation campaigns. He also warned about the misuse of AI in campaigns and asserted that election rigging is nearly impossible in Israel, urging respect for the democratic process.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Elections Committee official Dean Livne stated no concrete security warnings were received, contradicting PM Netanyahu.
Livne assured elections will proceed unless the Knesset votes to postpone them.
The committee is working with the Home Front Command to ensure safe voting.
Livne warned of foreign influence campaigns and the misuse of AI in political campaigns.
He asserted that election rigging in Israel is "almost impossible" due to strict oversight.
Over 23,000 police officers will be deployed on election day to ensure order.

The acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, Dean Livne, stated on Monday that the committee has not been updated on any concrete security warnings regarding potential attacks before the upcoming elections. This directly contradicts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion that Israel's enemies are planning to attack before the vote. Livne emphasized that the committee's role is to be prepared and that elections will proceed unless the Knesset decides otherwise with an 80-vote majority, potentially rescheduling them for a short period after an unforeseen event like a missile attack.

Livne explained that the committee works with the Home Front Command to develop defense policies ensuring safe voting for all citizens. He also addressed threats beyond physical attacks, including administrative issues like cyber-attacks and foreign influence campaigns aimed at undermining the democratic process. Livne noted a significant effort by external actors, using bot networks, to spread disinformation and create the impression that the elections are already compromised, a tactic he stated the committee has successfully countered with close cooperation from security agencies like the Shin Bet.

Furthermore, Livne warned about the increasing use of artificial intelligence in political campaigns, particularly AI chatbots that learn and adapt to users' preferences, potentially spreading misinformation based on unverified internet content. He highlighted that these systems do not discern facts and can provide biased answers tailored to what users want to hear. Regarding election integrity, Livne assured that it is "almost impossible" to rig elections in Israel due to the highly supervised process, though he acknowledged that fake news and de-legitimization campaigns can create the perception of fraud.

On election day, over 23,000 police officers will be deployed nationwide. Livne stressed that protests that impede voting are prohibited and will result in arrests, with the right to protest only commencing after polling stations close. He also addressed concerns about the acceptance of election results, particularly for parties close to the electoral threshold, urging all parties to respect the democratic process and the outcome.