Arab Rights Group, Lawmaker Criticize Shin Bet Election Probe

The legal center Adalah has called for an immediate halt to the Shin Bet's investigation into alleged foreign funding and electoral bribery in the recent Knesset elections, arguing it exceeds the agency's legal authority and targets Arab political representation. Concurrently, Yousef Jabareen, head of the Joint List, warned against the politicization of the Shin Bet and attempts to overturn election results.

Adalah sent a formal request on Wednesday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Shin Bet Director David Zini, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, demanding the cessation of the investigation. This action was prompted by reports that Zini intended to issue warnings to four prominent Arab politicians, including Ayman Odeh, Ahmad Tibi, Mansour Abbas, and Sami Abu Shehadeh, despite a lack of evidence justifying their interrogation. The Attorney General's office also noted that the Shin Bet had not provided investigation materials to the joint police task force for two days.

Adalah asserted that the investigation falls outside the Shin Bet's mandate, which is to thwart threats to the state's governance, not to conduct retroactive criminal investigations post-election. The center emphasized that such probes are the purview of civilian law enforcement, primarily the police, and that Shin Bet involvement requires explicit legal authorization. Adalah dismissed the notion of classifying the matter as a security issue as baseless and part of a campaign by Netanyahu to portray Arab citizens as enemies. The group stated that attempts to cast doubt on election results, allege theft, delay announcements, and target Arab representatives undermine public trust in the democratic process and the voters' will.

Adalah accused Zini of seeking to undermine the legitimacy of Arab political representation and intimidate voters and participants in democratic processes. The organization described this as a dangerous escalation in the Shin Bet's alleged racist policies, aimed at casting suspicion on legitimate Arab political activity and targeting its representatives. Adalah urged the Attorney General and state prosecution to intervene, halt Zini's intimidation campaign, and clarify that the Shin Bet has no place in democratic political life, asserting that the elections within the Arab community were conducted legally and their results are legitimate.

Jabareen echoed these concerns, warning that the campaign led by Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir against Arab voting and elected representatives aims to subvert election outcomes. He characterized Ben-Gvir's calls for arresting Arab leaders and overriding the Attorney General as an explicit incitement to overthrow the democratic process and the voters' will, reminiscent of dictatorial regimes. Jabareen argued these actions seek to delegitimize Arab representatives and progressive Jewish forces, infringing on the rights of hundreds of thousands of voters. He highlighted the confirmation of election integrity by the Head of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Solberg, and stressed that neither Netanyahu nor Ben-Gvir have the right to nullify results they dislike. The Joint List pledged to protect voters' will and thwart attempts to steal the election, while also working to end the Netanyahu-Ben-Gvir-Smotrich government and advance Arab rights.