Netanyahu Allies Accused of Misusing Police, Shin Bet in Election Fraud Claims
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Close associates of Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly manipulated the police and Shin Bet to support claims of Arab election fraud prior to elections, according to a Channel 12 investigation. Gadi Eisenkot warned of election obstruction, while Netanyahu's office denied the report. A senior law enforcement official expressed concern over the integrity of future elections due to the alleged actions. The investigation suggests the arrest of United List activists was pre-planned, involving a complaint from Netanyahu's office and intelligence from a former employee.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Netanyahu's allies allegedly used police and Shin Bet to support pre-election fraud claims, an investigation revealed.
- Gadi Eisenkot warned of dangerous election obstruction and misuse of police against Arab citizens.
- Netanyahu's office denied the report, calling it an attempt to silence election corruption allegations.
- A senior law enforcement official expressed grave concerns about the integrity of future elections.
- The investigation suggests the arrest of United List activists on election day was pre-planned.
- Ido Norden, from Netanyahu's office, allegedly directed police to an intelligence source for the complaint.
Israeli police and the Shin Bet security service allegedly collaborated to serve the political interests of then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with close associates orchestrating accusations of election fraud even before the elections took place. Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yamina party and tasked with forming a government, highlighted the danger of obstructing elections by fabricating evidence and using the police against Arab citizens without warrants. Netanyahu's office denied these claims, stating the investigation by Channel 12's "Ovda" program was an attempt to silence the issue of election corruption.
A senior law enforcement official described the situation as dire, suggesting that the integrity of future elections is compromised if the Shin Bet and police operate in such a manner, whether knowingly or as tools. The official called the "Ovda" investigation "almost unbelievable," noting suspicions that the arrest of United List activists on election day was pre-planned by individuals close to Netanyahu. The plan was to sensationalize the issue on election day itself, which is what occurred.
On the Monday before the election, Ido Norden, head of staff in Netanyahu's office, contacted the Police Commissioner's office with a complaint against United List activists in the south. Realizing a phone call was insufficient, someone in Netanyahu's office decided to also reference intelligence information already in the systems. Norden offered "assistance" during the call, directing police officers to a purported intelligence source possessing "the necessary information."
That same evening, the police intelligence coordinator contacted this source, who was a former employee in the Prime Minister's office and close to former Director General Yossi Shelley. This individual had provided incriminating information about three United List activists on the eve of the election, which later proved false. This information was entered into police intelligence systems that evening, establishing the complaint as originating from the Prime Minister's office chief of staff and the intelligence as coming from a former government employee. Based on these two sources, police carried out arrests at a highly sensitive time.
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