Supreme Court Intervenes in Election Interference Probe, Questions Attorney General

Israel's Supreme Court has issued its first decision regarding a petition filed by the Lavi organization against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. The petition alleges that the Attorney General has imposed restrictions on the investigation of Arab Knesset members and their aides, hindering the Shin Bet and police from probing suspected foreign interference in the 26th Knesset elections. Justice Ronan ordered the Lavi organization to update the court by Sunday, November 8, on whether they have received a response from the Attorney General to inquiries made on November 2. A further decision on how to proceed with the petition will be made after this update. This is a preliminary procedural ruling, not a decision on the merits of the organization's claims or the investigators' authorities.

The Lavi organization claims its requests to the Attorney General have gone unanswered, while investigators face legally unfounded demands. The petition, filed by attorneys Yitzhak Bam and Avishag Schwartz, argues that parliamentary immunity does not prevent criminal investigations of Knesset members and that their aides lack such immunity. The organization also contends that requiring evidence to be presented to the Attorney General as a prerequisite for an investigation is unlawful and contradicts court rulings and previous directives.

The Lavi organization issued a sharp response, accusing the Attorney General and her staff of obstructing the election interference investigation, similar to their alleged actions in another case. They urged the court to order the Attorney General to act lawfully. The court has not yet ordered the removal of the alleged restrictions, prioritizing clarification on the Attorney General's response to the Lavi organization's inquiries.