Israel's Attorney General Finds No Evidence of Election Interference
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced Sunday she has no evidence of foreign interference affecting the October 27th election results. The statement follows a dispute with Shin Bet Director David Zini over investigative methods concerning potential foreign funding. While the investigation remains open, Baharav-Miara stressed that decisions are professional and objective, not based on political or religious affiliation. President Isaac Herzog intervened to mediate the institutional disagreement.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara stated there is no evidence of foreign interference impacting Israel's October 27th election results.
- The Attorney General clashed with Shin Bet Director David Zini over investigating potential foreign funding of election campaigns.
- Zini sought to classify the probe as a national security issue and question Arab party officials, which Baharav-Miara opposed.
- Baharav-Miara emphasized that judicial decisions are professional, objective, and egalitarian, not politically motivated.
- President Isaac Herzog intervened to mediate the dispute between the Attorney General and the Shin Bet.
- The President of the Central Elections Committee previously confirmed the elections proceeded regularly.
Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara stated on Sunday that she has no evidence suggesting foreign interference could have altered the results of the October 27th elections. Speaking at a Justice Ministry seminar in Eilat, Baharav-Miara clarified that no information brought to her attention, even indirectly, indicates interference that would change the election outcome. She emphasized that the investigation remains open and any new information will be examined according to law.
These remarks follow a tense exchange with Shin Bet Director David Zini regarding investigations into potential foreign funding aimed at influencing the vote, particularly within the Arab electorate. Zini reportedly sought to expand his organization's investigative powers, classifying the matter as a national security issue and requesting authorization to question several Arab party officials. Baharav-Miara opposed this, arguing that insufficient evidence was presented to justify such interrogations and that suspicions of illegal campaign financing do not automatically constitute a threat to national security.
Baharav-Miara stressed the professional and objective nature of judicial decisions, stating, "The decision to investigate or not investigate a person is a professional, objective, and egalitarian decision. It has always been this way and always will be." The dispute became public when the Attorney General accused the Shin Bet of delaying the transmission of intelligence to a joint police investigation team.
Zini, defending his agency's actions, cited serious suspicions and the need for deeper investigation. The institutional friction prompted President Isaac Herzog to intervene personally with both officials. A subsequent meeting at Shin Bet headquarters reportedly eased tensions, though disagreements over investigative methods persisted. The Shin Bet has since begun gradually transferring its findings to the police, who are continuing the investigation.
Baharav-Miara also confirmed that the President of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, will be kept informed. Sohlberg had previously affirmed that the elections for the 26th Knesset proceeded regularly and that current suspicions do not warrant challenging the official results.
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