Shin Bet Chief Accused of Bias in Election Interference Probes

The head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency, David Zini, is facing accusations of attempting to please Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as two investigations into alleged interference in the October elections, involving Arab parties, appear to be collapsing. A significant conflict has emerged between the Shin Bet and the police over the assessment of collected materials, with police officials stating they have lost confidence in the Shin Bet chief. One senior police official remarked, "We have lost trust in the head of the Shin Bet." Sources within the security service have sharply criticized Zini, suggesting he is trying to "serve his master," Netanyahu. The Prime Minister had previously claimed that the October 27 election results were "stolen" by Arab parties and opposed their approval amid ongoing investigations. These probes, focusing on alleged voter bribery and foreign funding, were initiated following Netanyahu's statements. Channel 12 reported that Zini almost single-handedly viewed the alleged interference as a national security threat, while police and other law enforcement agencies believe the matter might at most constitute a criminal case. "There is a huge difference between Zini's statements and reality," a police representative stated.

One of the investigations, concerning alleged voter bribery in favor of the Ra'am party, led to the arrest of three Bedouin activists. However, Channel 12 reports this case may be closed without new evidence. The second investigation involves alleged foreign funding for a campaign supporting the "Joint List." While initial media reports suggested Qatari involvement, intelligence materials shared with the police by the Shin Bet do not mention the country, according to Channel 12. The funds might have originated from the West Bank, but the source remains unidentified.

The inter-agency conflict has impacted the investigation's progress. Deputy Police Commissioner Boaz Blatt has prohibited subordinates from sharing any case information with the Shin Bet without his personal approval. This directive came despite recent agreements between police and Shin Bet, along with the prosecution, to form a joint team to investigate the alleged election interference. Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg, head of the Central Election Committee, had also announced the formation of such a group, but it has not yet begun its work. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has accused the Shin Bet of withholding evidence.

The investigations began after the Likud party accused Arab parties of violations during the October 27 elections, including alleged bribery, voter intimidation, and document forgery. These accusations followed a record turnout among Arab voters, which contributed to Netanyahu's bloc losing its parliamentary majority. Justice Solberg had initially tasked Zini with examining suspicions of foreign organizations, acting against Israel's interests, funding attempts to influence the vote. However, Solberg later cautioned against stigmatizing Arab voters and stated that the alleged interference could not have altered the election outcome, emphasizing that the real danger lies in undermining confidence in the voting process.