Israeli Security Officials Warn of Election-Related Threats to Public Figures Ahead of Knesset Vote

The Intelligence Subcommittee convened a closed session on Monday to discuss preparations for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. Committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth warned that the election campaign will be a primary target for Israel's enemies, expressing serious concerns about potential physical harm to public officials and candidates. Bismuth highlighted Iran's strategy, stating that since it cannot defeat Israel militarily, it aims to destabilize the country internally by inciting civil strife and deepening societal divisions, turning the elections into another battleground.

Noam Solberg, chairman of the Elections Committee, emphasized the need to protect the democratic process from impersonation, deception, and manipulation designed to disrupt voters' free will. He noted the committee's close cooperation with security agencies, particularly the Shin Bet and the National Cyber Directorate, to ensure a fair, transparent, and reliable election process.

Shin Bet chief David Zini, present at the meeting, outlined the agency's preparations and stressed the distinction between its routine security duties under the Prime Minister's office and its responsibility to safeguard election integrity. Zini urged all parties to keep the security services out of political disputes, stating, "Please keep us away from any political arena; we are absolutely not there."