Shin Bet Delays Evidence in Election Interference Probe Amid Disagreements

Israel's Shin Bet security agency has not provided additional materials to the police to substantiate claims of foreign interference in elections, despite a renewed promise made during a meeting between the two agencies on Wednesday. Shin Bet chief David Zini continues to insist on the seriousness of the suspicions, suggesting they could lead to the invalidation of votes, without presenting new evidence. Representatives from the Shin Bet reiterated their commitment to share further information with the police during the meeting, according to "Israel Hayom," but the materials had not been delivered by the time of reporting, weeks after the issue was first raised. The Shin Bet did not respond to inquiries about the delay. A source familiar with the meeting questioned the delay, asking why materials held for weeks were not yet submitted. Meanwhile, the Legal Advisor to the Government, Gali Baharav-Miara, has not yet approved the Shin Bet's requests to summon additional individuals for investigation, despite the agency's claims of possessing further unshared information. The Police have presented an updated professional assessment casting doubt on the possibility of turning the foreign interference suspicions into a criminal or security case based on available information, ahead of a joint investigation team meeting involving the police, Shin Bet, and the State Prosecution. This comes amid an ongoing dispute between the Shin Bet and the police regarding the nature and severity of the suspicions. The police believe the materials received so far indicate potential limited violations related to party financing, not electoral bribery or foreign interference. Zini, however, maintains a more serious assessment that could justify invalidating votes. The Shin Bet claims that not all information has been transferred, and that it possesses materials related to additional financial transfers, some of which are expected to be presented to the joint team. These developments occur against the backdrop of skepticism regarding the election results within the Arab community, after the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, permitted the Likud party to examine election materials from ballot boxes, primarily in Arab towns, though this does not prove forgery or impact on the results.