Shin Bet Chief Forgets Name of Arab Politician During Probe Request

The head of the Shin Bet, David Zinai, experienced an embarrassing moment during a dramatic meeting where he requested to open a police investigation against four senior Arab politicians. The incident, revealed by i24NEWS correspondent Avishai Greenzaig, occurred when Zinai struggled to recall the name of the chairman of the Ra'am party while listing the individuals he sought to investigate. "We will request to investigate MK, well, what's his name, what's his name, what's his name, Mansour Abbas," Zinai stated. Among the politicians Zinai wants to investigate are Ahmad Tibi, chairman of Ta'al; Mansour Abbas, chairman of Ra'am; and Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of Balad, who was disqualified from running in the elections. The name of a fourth senior MK involved is currently under gag order, though reports indicate significant evidence has been gathered against him.

The Shin Bet chief's request has been submitted to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, but she has not yet approved the investigations. She is awaiting the evidence materials before making a decision. Meanwhile, a joint investigation team between the Shin Bet and the police, agreed upon two days prior, has not yet begun due to a failure to transfer the necessary materials, delaying the probe.

This demand for investigation stems from a widening probe into suspicions of foreign funding and election bribery, which has reached unprecedented dimensions. According to i24NEWS, one MK from the Joint List is under scrutiny for allegedly receiving hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash. The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, had instructed Shin Bet head Zinai to examine suspicions of foreign election funding and report his findings.

Mansour Abbas responded to the allegations, stating that Ra'am welcomes the investigation into potential undue influence on elections through foreign funding and emphasizes its commitment to election integrity. He asserted that Ra'am has no connection to the matter and will cooperate fully with law enforcement. Abbas also directed a jab at the Prime Minister, referencing Qatari agents in his office and stating, "There will be nothing, because there is nothing" in response to what he called a campaign against Arab citizens.

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir called the suspicions "extremely serious," warning that if proven, it would constitute a "shocking corruption case" and a severe blow to Israeli democracy and sovereignty. He demanded that the MK be prosecuted with a prison sentence and called for repeat elections if the results were found to have been manipulated by the funds.