Election Committee: Shin Bet Probe Does Not Affect Results
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
The Central Elections Committee stated that a Shin Bet investigation into alleged election bribery will not affect the final results and does not target any specific sector. Acting Director General Dean Livne confirmed that key political leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, were briefed on the probe. The committee also released final election results showing the Likud party winning 27 seats, with a 77.9% voter turnout. The Shin Bet emphasized its investigation is focused and based on intelligence regarding foreign influence.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shin Bet election bribery probe will not impact final results, says Central Elections Committee.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu, Opposition Leader Lapid, and Gadi Eisenkot were briefed on the investigation.
- Likud party won 27 seats in the 26th Knesset elections, with Yisrael Beiteinu securing 21.
- Final voter turnout for the elections was 77.9%.
- The investigation reportedly stems from intelligence regarding foreign influence and potential external actors.
The Central Elections Committee announced that an ongoing Shin Bet investigation into suspected election bribery will not impact the final results and does not target any specific sector. Dean Livne, acting director general of the committee, stated that the probe was initiated following classified intelligence presented by the head of the Shin Bet to committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg. Livne emphasized that reports circulating during the day were unfounded and that the circle of individuals aware of the intelligence is extremely limited due to its high security classification.
Livne confirmed that the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman Gadi Eisenkot were briefed on the investigation's main points with the chairman's approval. He reiterated that the investigation is proceeding concurrently with the committee's own processes and will not influence the final results submitted to the President. Once completed, the findings will be presented to the committee chairman to determine their scope and implications, with the committee promising to update the public as soon as possible within security constraints.
The committee also officially confirmed the final results for the 26th Knesset, with the Likud party securing 27 seats, followed by Yisrael Beiteinu with 21. The final voter turnout was reported at 77.9%, with over 5.7 million votes counted. Minor corrections are expected in the coming days as part of the standard vote verification process before the results are submitted to the President on November 4.
The Shin Bet had previously issued a statement emphasizing that its investigation is focused and limited, and does not cast doubt on any entire sector that voted democratically. Only those who acted illegally would be dealt with. The investigation was reportedly triggered by a letter from Justice Sohlberg to Shin Bet head David Zini, urging an investigation into suspicions involving external actors, potentially related to money transfers from Qatar, which Qatar has denied. The Shin Bet stated its information came from its own intelligence gathering regarding foreign influence, not from any political party, and that only Chairman Sohlberg was aware of the details before the election's conclusion.
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