Israeli Legal Advisor Accuses Shin Bet of Hindering Election Investigation

Israel's Legal Advisor to the Government, Gali Baharav-Miara, announced on Tuesday evening that the Shin Bet security agency has not provided investigation materials related to suspected foreign interference in the elections to the joint police team for two days, effectively halting the investigation. In an exceptional statement responding to what she described as inaccurate reports, Baharav-Miara emphasized that "in a state of law, citizens or elected officials cannot be investigated without evidence justifying it." This comes amid an intensified campaign by the Likud party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp to question election results and delegitimize Arab votes.

Baharav-Miara stated that if the Shin Bet or any other entity possesses evidence warranting an investigation, it must be presented, adding that "anyone who should be investigated will be investigated, but no one will be investigated without a basis of evidence." She revealed that the Shin Bet has not transferred collected investigation materials to the special investigation team, established on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, with police participation and prosecutorial oversight, for two days. She stressed that the failure to deliver the materials "practically leads to a delay in processing the case," asserting that law enforcement agencies are working swiftly and professionally to uncover the truth, and that decisions regarding the investigation will be based on available evidence.

The statement follows Israeli media reports that Shin Bet head David Zini seeks to investigate four Arab party leaders, including Ahmed Tibi, Mansour Abbas, Sami Abu Shehadeh, and a fourth unnamed Knesset member, under warning, despite law enforcement assessments that there is insufficient evidence to question them. Haaretz reported that Zini is refusing to hand over investigation materials to the police, contrary to an agreement reached on Sunday. Walla! revealed a dispute between Zini and the Legal Advisor regarding his demand to classify the entire case under security crimes to utilize exceptional investigative powers, which she rejected as illegal.

He added that "Likud and Netanyahu, in their distress, are trying to carry out a pogrom against democracy and the rule of law," accusing them of trying to drag Israel into a "serious constitutional crisis" and deeming it proof of their unsuitability to continue governing.

The Likud party had accused Baharav-Miara of preventing investigations into Arab leaders and obstructing the Shin Bet's work, while the Religious Zionism party demanded her removal from the investigation, without providing evidence of the mentioned leaders' involvement in foreign election interference. Meanwhile, Sohlberg rejected the Likud's request to postpone the final results announcement, emphasizing that the Central Elections Committee lacks the authority to delay their publication. The results are scheduled to be delivered to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, initiating consultations for government formation.