Shin Bet Chief Likens Election Interference to October 7th Catastrophe

The head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, issued a rare and sharp condemnation of suspected foreign interference in the Knesset elections, comparing its severity to the failures leading up to the October 7th Hamas attack. Speaking to Channel 12, Zini stated, "I consider the incident of money entering here in the elections to be like the failure on October 7th. This is our Yom Kippur. This is the greatest strategic attack in the country's history." These remarks come amid suspicions of foreign funding aimed at influencing votes within the Arab community.

Zini reportedly informed the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Solberg, that hostile foreign entities transferred up to 100 million shekels in an effort to sway the election results. Investigations are examining suspicions that funds from abroad, potentially channeled through the Palestinian Authority, were used to provide cash and fuel cards to voters. Zini also claimed that despite the gravity of the intelligence, he did not receive the necessary approvals to investigate suspects in the affair.

These allegations have not yet been proven. The Shin Bet chief's strong statement arises from an ongoing dispute with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara regarding the investigation's management. Zini sought to advance investigations into senior figures in Arab parties and utilize security investigation powers, but the Attorney General opposed investigating elected officials without sufficient evidence, emphasizing that all probes must adhere to the law. The two met recently to try and resolve their cooperation issues.

Meanwhile, Judge Solberg clarified that while the suspicions warrant investigation, they do not, in themselves, cast doubt on the overall election results.