Netanyahu's Office Accused of Election Interference Operation

Translated & summarized from N12 by baba

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Hebrew · 5 newsrooms covering

A report alleging that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office conducted an operation to plant intelligence against Arab citizens within the police on the eve of elections has sparked a major political outcry. Opposition leaders, including Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan, have condemned the alleged actions as a threat to democracy and called for immediate investigations. The Israel Bar Association has formally requested the Attorney General to launch a probe into the Prime Minister's Office, citing evidence of election interference. The Movement for Quality of Government also demanded a criminal investigation into the alleged misuse of security forces for political purposes.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Netanyahu's office is accused of an operation to plant intelligence against Arab citizens before elections.
Gadi Eisenkot called the alleged actions a "tangible, direct, and immediate threat to Israeli democracy."
Yair Golan stated the Shin Bet and police are not Netanyahu's operational arm.
The Israel Bar Association requested an investigation into alleged election interference by the PM's office.
Opposition leaders demand immediate probes into the alleged misuse of security forces for political gain.

Netanyahu's Office Accused of Election Interference Operation — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

A political storm erupted in Israel following a report alleging that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office conducted an operation on the eve of elections, aiming to plant intelligence against Arab citizens within the police force. Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, strongly condemned the alleged actions, stating that the prime minister's conduct poses a "tangible, direct, and immediate threat to Israeli democracy." He argued that as long as Netanyahu remains in office, fair elections cannot be guaranteed, making it his primary consideration in coalition negotiations.

Eisenkot further claimed that this alleged election interference, which he described as potentially worse than the "Qatargate" affair, involved an attempt to fabricate evidence and use the police against Arab citizens without proper warrants. He called for an immediate investigation and for the police and Shin Bet to clarify the published details, vowing to push for a Knesset inquiry into the Prime Minister's Office's involvement in election day activities and the conduct of security agencies.

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, echoed these sentiments, calling the report proof that Netanyahu's office crossed another red line by allegedly planting intelligence within the police for a political campaign and election theft. He emphasized that the Shin Bet and police are not Netanyahu's operational arm and demanded an independent and immediate investigation.

Other political figures, including Yosef Jabareen, chairman of the Joint List, and MKs Noam Tibon, Yoav Segalovitz, and Naama Lazimi, also voiced strong criticism. Jabareen accused Netanyahu of attempting a "regime coup" by criminally using the police against the Arab public and its leaders, characterizing the behavior as typical of "dark regimes." The Israel Bar Association chairman, Amit Becher, formally requested the Attorney General to launch an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the Prime Minister's Office, citing evidence of election interference and the alleged use of security forces for a propaganda operation that led to the arrest of three Arab Israeli citizens.

The Movement for Quality of Government also reacted, calling for an immediate criminal investigation into the allegations, including the involvement of individuals from the Prime Minister's Office, police, and Shin Bet. They urged the Attorney General to order a thorough probe to determine who initiated, ordered, and executed these actions, emphasizing that law enforcement and security agencies must not become tools against political rivals.