Israeli Parties Attack Attorney General Over Election Interference Probe

Several Israeli parties, including Likud, Otzma Yehudit, and Religious Zionism, launched a sharp attack on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara following reports of a dispute between her and Shin Bet head David Zini concerning an investigation into alleged foreign interference in elections. The parties accused the Attorney General of attempting to delay the investigation, with two parties demanding her removal from handling the case.

Likud claimed Baharav-Miara is preventing investigations into Members of Knesset Ahmed Tibi, Mansour Abbas, Sami Abu Shehadeh, and another unnamed MK, whose names were mentioned in reports about the suspicions. The party stated, "The publications tonight are an earthquake for Israeli democracy," and alleged that the Attorney General is preventing the Shin Bet from using security investigation methods and sought to conceal suspicions of security offenses from the public. Likud called on Judge Noam Sohlberg and the Central Elections Committee to investigate the suspicions and provide answers.

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir also demanded Baharav-Miara's removal from the investigation, stating, "She is contaminating the investigation, she must move aside. The one who needs to conduct the investigation is Shin Bet head David Zini." Ben-Gvir declared, "The elections were stolen here! The people of Israel do not accept the theft of elections!"

The Religious Zionism party joined the criticism, stating, "If indeed the head of the Shin Bet claims that Gali Baharav-Miara is thwarting an investigation at the heart of Israeli democracy, then this is an earthquake." The party urged Sohlberg to order Baharav-Miara's removal from the case and called for a full investigation into suspicions of ties between hostile elements and Arab MKs.

Meanwhile, Haaretz reported that Zini refused to transfer investigation materials concerning suspected foreign influence in elections, including information on funds allegedly received by an MK from the Joint List, to the police and prosecution. He reportedly bypassed senior Shin Bet officials and opened a direct channel with Sohlberg to circumvent the Attorney General. Senior law enforcement officials criticized Zini's conduct, with one stating, "He is acting like North Korea, in a democracy you don't investigate MKs without evidence."

According to Ynet, the core of the dispute between Zini and Baharav-Miara is his demand to classify the entire affair as a suspected security offense, allowing the Shin Bet to use expanded investigative tools. Baharav-Miara opposed a blanket classification without sufficient evidence, arguing it would be illegal and could compromise evidence admissibility. She denied delaying the investigation, stating that significant investigative actions were approved at the Shin Bet's request and that a joint team from the Shin Bet, police, and State Attorney's Office was established to expedite the investigation. "Anyone who needs to be investigated will be investigated," she stated.