Shin Bet Warns of Foreign Interference in Israeli Elections, Takes Preventive Measures

Shin Bet chief David Zini has issued warnings about potential foreign interference in Israel's upcoming elections, specifically naming Iran, Russia, and China as threats. Following his alerts in the Knesset and closed-door meetings with senior Israeli officials, Shin Bet has dispatched teams abroad to study the tactics used by these countries to disrupt democratic processes. Zini emphasized that countering these foreign attempts is a top priority for the agency.

A special discussion on election preparedness was held at the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, attended by Zini, Central Elections Committee Chair Judge Noam Solberg, the head of the National Cyber Directorate, and representatives from the National Security Council and the IDF. Committee Chair Boaz Bismuth stated, "Iran will try to turn the election system into another front." President Isaac Herzog also addressed the issue, highlighting the threats to election integrity from both domestic and foreign sources and calling for vigilance and responsibility regarding information consumption and dissemination.

About three weeks ago, Zini, Herzog, and Solberg met at the President's residence to express full support for the Central Elections Committee and to discuss coordinated efforts to ensure a fair, secure, and transparent election process. Herzog stressed that elections are a vital democratic process, not a civil war, and pledged to prevent any attempts to undermine societal cohesion or election purity.

Additionally, outgoing State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman released a report warning that Israel's national preparedness against foreign influence campaigns on social media is significantly lacking. Englman cautioned that the threat will intensify ahead of the 2026 elections, posing risks of election result manipulation and erosion of public trust.