Israeli President Herzog Demands Investigation into Election Interference Claims

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called for a thorough investigation into allegations of external influence and irregularities during the recent election. He met with Noam Solberg, Chairman of the Central Election Commission, and David Zini, head of the Shin Bet security service, to discuss the commission's official request for a probe into claims of foreign interference.

President Herzog emphasized the importance of meticulously examining each reported incident, while also cautioning against collective accusations targeting Arab citizens. He stated that the integrity of the electoral process is a fundamental democratic value and that any evidence of violations must be thoroughly investigated, with perpetrators facing legal consequences. However, he stressed that these investigations should not lead to the defamation of voters exercising their civic rights.

The president's intervention followed statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political allies, who alleged voter bribery and artificial turnout stimulation in Arab communities. These suspicions prompted the Central Election Commission to request the security services to conduct an official verification.

Discussions also touched upon the formation of the next government. President Herzog urged party leaders to exercise restraint and flexibility during coalition negotiations, prioritizing national interests and avoiding actions that could deepen societal divisions.

Separately, the Shin Bet is also set to investigate potential foreign funding in the Israeli elections, a move that follows concerns raised by figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who called for an investigation into the actions of Arab parties.