Eisenkot Accuses Netanyahu of Manipulating Public Opinion on Election Integrity
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, urged the Shin Bet to investigate foreign interference and election bribery, while criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu for allegedly manipulating public opinion. Eisenkot insisted the new Knesset be sworn in on time, rejecting attempts to delegitimize election results. The call follows a directive from the Central Elections Committee chairman to the Shin Bet head.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot demands Shin Bet probe foreign interference and election bribery immediately.
- Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of leading an "improper influence operation" to delay election results.
- The Yisrael Beiteinu chairman insists the 26th Knesset must be sworn in on schedule.
- Eisenkot condemns foreign involvement, especially from states supporting Hamas.
- The call follows a directive from the Central Elections Committee chairman to the Shin Bet.
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has called on the Shin Bet security agency to immediately and thoroughly investigate suspicions of foreign interference in the Israeli elections. He urged decisive action against anyone found to have compromised the integrity of the vote. Eisenkot also insisted that the 26th Knesset be sworn in on schedule and criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies.
Eisenkot stated, "I welcome Netanyahu finally condemning Qatari involvement in Israel. Foreign involvement is utterly unacceptable, especially from a state that funds and supports Hamas. This is serious when it happens in the Prime Minister's office and serious if it occurs during elections." He emphasized the Shin Bet's duty to investigate impartially, stating, "The Shin Bet must investigate the suspicions fully and immediately without bias. Iron fist must be used against anyone found to have harmed or attempted to harm election integrity."
He stressed that the investigation must not delay the democratic process, asserting, "Any decision regarding the elections must be made with extreme solemnity, understanding that the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset must occur on time. Fulfilling the voters' will in democratic elections is a fundamental component of Israeli democracy and national resilience."
Furthermore, Eisenkot accused Netanyahu and his partners of attempting to exploit the suspicions for political gain. "Netanyahu, accustomed to dealing with reality through lies, mind manipulation, and spreading chaos, is leading, along with his partners, an improper influence operation on the Israeli public to delay the announcement of election results and create a fictitious delegitimization of the 26th Knesset's activities," Eisenkot claimed. He added, "The attempt to exploit information (not yet investigated), whose details and scope of suspicions have not yet been clarified, to challenge the official election results, in which the Israeli public voted against the "government of failure", is unacceptable and must be rejected outright."
These remarks followed an directive from the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, to the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, to investigate suspicions of foreign funding and election bribery.
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