Netanyahu Meets Police Chief Amid Controversy Over Election Integrity Talks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Sunday with Police Inspector General Dani Levy and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for a discussion on "election integrity." Levy assured Netanyahu that the police are prepared to safeguard Israeli democracy and public order, and are also ready for potential terror incidents. The meeting sparked controversy, as opposition leader Yair Lapid and representatives from the Elections Committee were not invited, despite the issue being cross-party. Constitutional law experts suggested the meeting might be illegal, as the responsibility for election integrity lies with the Chairman of the Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, not the Prime Minister. Sohlberg ruled that while the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara opposed the meeting and Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, demanded its cancellation, the discussion could proceed as long as it focused on public order and not election integrity. Ben-Gvir defended the meeting as routine, stating it is the minister's duty to review preparedness and identify gaps. However, Eisenkot strongly criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of attempting to undermine the elections and create a false narrative of compromised integrity due to fear of losing. Eisenkot urged Netanyahu to cease his involvement and that of his associates in the election process. The Likud party stated the meeting was a security discussion concerning threats to the elections, not about their integrity, and invited Sohlberg to send a representative. Netanyahu's attorney, Ilan Bombach, claimed the discussion was prompted by dramatic security warnings of terror threats aimed at disrupting the elections, and that the meeting with Levy was to receive an update on security preparations. Meanwhile, the Joint List and Adalah Center petitioned the High Court of Justice to prohibit armed observers at polling stations, citing concerns that armed presence, particularly in Arab communities, could intimidate voters and lead to violence.