Election Results Approved Despite Foreign Interference Probe

The Central Elections Committee officially approved the results of the 26th Knesset elections on Wednesday, allocating the 120 mandates among the parties, despite ongoing Shin Bet investigations into serious suspicions of foreign interference. The approval passed with 15 votes in favor, two against, and 14 abstentions. The decision was made after the completion of vote counting and a control operation, paving the way for the results to be submitted to the President and published.

Committee Chairman, Judge Noam Sohlberg, addressed the controversy, emphasizing that voters determine election outcomes and that the current suspicions do not undermine the elections as a whole. He stated that democratic systems rely on respecting election results, calling it a precious resource that must be handled with care. Sohlberg clarified that while suspicions regarding certain aspects of the election process are being investigated, they remain unproven at this stage and called for cooperation to conclude the inquiry.

The final mandate distribution shows the Likud party as the largest with 27 seats, followed by Yish Atid with 21. Other parties secured seats including: United Torah Judaism (12), the Joint List (11), Hadash (8), Ra'am (8), Yisrael Beiteinu (7), Otzma Yehudit (7), Shas (6), and Religious Zionism (6).

The vote proceeded after the Shin Bet informed committee members of intelligence suggesting foreign funds were allegedly channeled to influence the elections, though further investigation is needed to confirm the extent of the phenomenon. Otzma Yehudit had announced it would vote against approval, and Likud MK Amit Halevi resigned from the committee in protest of his party's abstention instead of opposition.

A control operation reviewed protocols from approximately 75% of polling stations, with an in-depth examination of 350 stations. The committee reported no irregularities or findings that compromised the integrity of the elections or altered the results. Necessary corrections were made based on existing records.