Report: Netanyahu's Office Suspected of Fabricating Election Fraud Claims; Shin Bet Chief Sought Wiretaps on Arab MKs

A Channel 12 report revealed that a former employee in the Prime Minister's Office, closely connected to former director-general Yossi Shelley, allegedly transferred information against activists of the United Arab List. These activists were arrested on election day. Previously, it was known that Eido Nordin, the Prime Minister's chief of staff, had contacted the Police Inspector General to complain about the United Arab List's activities in southern Israel. However, the report indicates the Prime Minister's Office went further, directing police officers to a supposed "intelligence source" that provided additional information. This information was reportedly entered into police intelligence systems, leading to an operation in Rahat without a warrant. The government's legal advisor and the police's investigations department are examining suspicions that this intelligence was deliberately fabricated to bolster Nordin's complaint and fuel the "Arabs are stealing the elections" campaign, despite the arrests yielding no evidence of wrongdoing.

Separately, it was disclosed that Shin Bet chief David Zini requested the arrest of Arab Knesset members on election day and sought to wiretap five Arab lawmakers, suspecting foreign influence. The government's legal advisor rejected these requests, which were made without evidence and based solely on "intelligence information." Zini reportedly presented a file to Gadi Eisenkot, head of the National Unity Party, claiming it contained information from 2018 about Arabs stealing elections, which previous Shin Bet chiefs had ignored.

The Shin Bet issued a statement asserting that its investigation into "serious suspicions of sabotage and foreign influence" was conducted legally and in accordance with the directives of the Central Elections Committee chairman. The agency stated that information regarding the investigation's targets or methods was not released by the Shin Bet.

Eisenkot responded by calling Netanyahu's actions and those of his associates a "tangible, direct, and immediate threat to Israeli democracy," stating that Netanyahu should not remain in power and that fair elections would not be possible under his leadership. He cited this as his primary consideration in coalition negotiations.

The Prime Minister's Office denied the report, calling it "false" and an attempt to silence the election integrity issue. They stated that Nordin acted as a law-abiding citizen by reporting criminal information to the police and denied any further involvement with intelligence or investigative bodies, threatening legal action for defamation. The office also claimed that an individual was indeed caught with tens of thousands of shekels and United Arab List ballots on election day, as seen by the public and the chief of staff.