Israel Election Committee Chief Approves Phone Call, Not Meeting, Between PM and Police Commissioner

The Chairman of the Election Committee, Justice Noam Solberg, has approved a phone call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Police Commissioner Dani Levy, ruling against a requested meeting. The decision came after Netanyahu's office stated the discussion would be limited to security matters and not election integrity. Solberg dismissed a petition filed by Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, to block the meeting, noting Netanyahu's declaration that it would be a phone call and would not address election issues.

Eisenkot had approached Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, arguing that the Prime Minister was attempting to interfere with the elections. Baharav-Miara supported Eisenkot's stance, stating that political interference in election management by the Prime Minister or any candidate is inappropriate and that police should coordinate with the Election Committee. She also noted that such a meeting had not occurred previously, contrary to claims by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Netanyahu's Likud party had initially denied the meeting was about elections, describing it as a follow-up to a security discussion due to threats. They offered to allow an Election Committee representative to attend, but the committee stated no representative was invited. Eisenkot publicly accused Netanyahu of attempting to sabotage the elections with this "dangerous intervention."

Minister Ben-Gvir defended the planned discussion, calling it a routine procedure for ministers to review security preparations, citing previous similar actions by other ministers. His office stated that a meeting between the Prime Minister, National Security Minister, and Police Commissioner is a legitimate part of the political leadership's responsibility.