Shin Bet Clarifies Foreign Interference Probe Data Source

The Shin Bet (General Security Service) issued a clarification Thursday evening regarding suspicions of foreign interference in the 26th Knesset elections. The service emphasized that the information leading to the investigation was gathered internally by the Shin Bet and did not originate from any political party or figure. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, National Unity party leader Gadi Eisenkot, and Opposition leader Yair Lapid were personally briefed on the investigation's details by the head of the Shin Bet.

The Shin Bet stated that the information was collected as part of its legal mandate to identify foreign influence operations. This clarification addresses questions raised after the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, wrote to Shin Bet head David Zini demanding an investigation into alleged foreign funding aimed at influencing election results. The Shin Bet confirmed that no external entity, apart from Judge Sohlberg, was privy to the information before the election's conclusion, ensuring it was not shared with political factions during the campaign.

The service stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that any public statements about the specifics or validity of the suspicions do not represent the Shin Bet's official stance. "The Shin Bet has not yet concluded its investigation, and any statement regarding the content or nature of the suspicions is not on behalf of the Shin Bet, and it would have been appropriate to refrain from doing so," the statement read.

Upon completion, the findings will be presented to the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, who is authorized to make decisions. The Shin Bet committed to providing all information transparently and without interpretation. The service also clarified that the investigation is focused solely on individuals involved and does not cast a shadow on the Arab public or any segment of the population that participated democratically in the elections. "It should be emphasized that, as the Shin Bet operates in all areas, focusing only on those concerned, this type of investigation is also focused and delimited, and does not cast a shadow or accuse an entire sector that went to vote democratically and legally. Only those who acted contrary to the law will be dealt with," the statement concluded.

The clarification comes amid political demands to investigate and potentially arrest Arab party leaders based on the suspicions, which are reportedly linked to Qatari funding and possible involvement of another country. The suspicions have not been proven, and the Shin Bet reiterated that findings will be transferred to the Elections Committee chairman for decision-making only after the investigation concludes.