Likud MK Resigns From Election Committee Over "Conscience Vote"

Member of Knesset Amit Halevy of the Likud party announced his resignation from the Central Election Committee on Wednesday, following the committee's statement that all faction inquiries found no evidence of election integrity violations. Halevy explained that he disagreed with the Likud's decision to abstain from a symbolic vote to approve election results before their submission to the President. He stated his resignation as the Likud representative was submitted after Judge Solberg's decision to bring the election results for committee approval and in light of the Likud's abstention. Halevy argued that the Election Committee lacks the authority to discuss or approve matters until serious suspicions of foreign state interference, which Judge Solberg described as having a security dimension, are resolved. He further claimed that the legal system, led by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, is actively thwarting the investigation into these suspicions, citing other investigations as examples, which he believes makes the suspicions even more concrete and severe. Halevy asserted that committee members are obligated to approve only the free choice of Israeli citizens, not the choices of leaders from Qatar, Iran, or Turkey. He appealed to the public not to allow the undermining of free choice and a severe blow to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Halevy emphasized that this is not a partisan issue but one of loyalty to Israel and its sovereignty, warning that if foreign entities succeed in taking over the Knesset and elected officials who secured their seats through bribery are sworn in, the path to Israel's destruction as a Jewish and democratic state will be opened. He concluded by stating he would not vote against his conscience or the state's security, thus necessitating his immediate resignation from the committee as the Likud representative.