Shin Bet Chief and Election Committee Chair Warn of Foreign Interference in Israeli Elections

In a closed-door session scheduled for Monday, the Subcommittee on Intelligence Affairs of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee will hear from Shin Bet Chief David Zini about foreign attempts to influence Israel's upcoming elections. Zini is expected to present intelligence indicating external interference efforts by hostile countries, including data on covert financial transfers aimed at political manipulation within Israel.

The chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Solberg, will also appear before the subcommittee to discuss these concerns. Concurrently, Likud MK Amit Halevi accused Iranian agents of actively trying to disrupt the electoral process to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the right-wing government, thereby facilitating a left-wing rise to power. Halevi stated, "This is not a hypothesis - we have clear indications of Iranian efforts to sabotage the elections."

Halevi emphasized that Israeli security and oversight agencies are vigorously working to thwart any foreign interference to protect the democratic process and Israeli sovereignty. "We are acting to prevent any such attempts to preserve your vote and the sovereignty of Israeli citizens," he said.

This confidential briefing reflects heightened vigilance within Israeli security circles regarding foreign influence operations ahead of the national elections, underscoring the government's commitment to safeguarding electoral integrity.