Election Committee Head Addresses Foreign Influence Allegations

Three days after allegations of foreign interference in the elections surfaced, Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, addressed the public for the first time on Sunday. This initiative was prompted by disinformation circulating in recent days, including a campaign by the Likud party questioning the election results. Sohlberg's statement, delivered alongside the head of the Shin Bet and the Attorney General, followed a meeting with them and the acting CEO of the Elections Committee. The Shin Bet chief agreed with Sohlberg's message, which aimed to prevent damage to the legitimacy of the election outcomes. The officials sought to affirm the integrity of the elections, which will be formally submitted to President Yitzhak Herzog.

An enforcement source told Ynet that Sohlberg's initiative stemmed from genuine concern over the intense rhetoric reported in the media, which began spreading on Thursday. To validate his intentions, Sohlberg convened the Shin Bet head and the Attorney General to prevent disinformation and promote transparency. Meanwhile, a report by Kan 11 revealed internal dissent within the Shin Bet regarding investigations into election bribery. Shin Bet chief David Zini reportedly sought to employ additional service measures to investigate bribery suspicions, but an operations chief and two senior officials opposed this, citing the limited scope of the suspicions and doubts about the ability to gather sufficient evidence for criminal offenses.

Despite Sohlberg's statement, senior Likud officials indicated the party is still considering an official appeal of the election results, which are due to be presented to President Herzog on Wednesday. A senior Likud official close to Benjamin Netanyahu stated the party has two weeks to file an appeal or demand a repeat election. "If the cloud surrounding foreign funding in the election campaign is not removed by the date of the election results' publication, we will act through legal means to file an appeal," the official said. The joint statement by Sohlberg, Zini, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara did not alter the stance of Netanyahu and Likud leaders, who issued a sharp response against Sohlberg's remarks and continued their "The election was stolen" campaign.

In his address, Sohlberg emphasized, "Your decision at the ballot box will be honored. This is the commitment of the Central Elections Committee to every citizen in Israel." He added, "Alongside me are the Attorney General and the head of the General Security Service. We stand together, and what I am telling you is agreed upon by all three of us." He clarified that most reports about the ongoing Shin Bet investigation are incorrect, stating it is in a covert phase based on classified information. "Serious suspicions have recently emerged that require examination, concerning funding from external entities intended to influence the election system and which may have a security dimension. Following the information presented to me, I instructed the General Security Service to investigate these suspicions according to the law." Sohlberg stressed, "Suspicions are suspicions. To appeal election results, solid evidence is required." He asserted that even if the suspicions are verified, they would not detract from the overall integrity and results of the elections. A joint team led by the Shin Bet, Israel Police, and the State Prosecutor's Office will be established to uncover the truth, with the Elections Committee chairman closely monitoring the process. He also clarified that the investigation does not cast doubt on the Arab community's vote, stating their participation was a legitimate exercise of democratic rights and a welcome sign of broad participation.

Sohlberg concluded by promising to update the public with verified information as quickly as possible within permissible limits. "Citizens of Israel, on election day you had your say. Our responsibility is to protect your decision and complete the process according to the law. This coming Wednesday, the official results will be published and submitted to the President, as they are. Your voice has been counted. Your decision will be honored. Thank you and good evening."