developing· Politics· Updated 20:14

Election Integrity Unaffected by Foreign Funding Probe, Says Top Judge

The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, declared on Sunday, November 1, 2026, that the 26th Knesset elections were valid and their results would not be challenged, despite serious allegations of foreign interference. Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Shin Bet head David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Sohlberg emphasized that the election outcomes accurately reflect the will of the voters.

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What happened

01Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg declared the 26th Knesset election results valid despite foreign interference allegations.
02Sohlberg spoke alongside Shin Bet head David Zini, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, and Acting Director-General Dean Livneh.
03The allegations involve illegal foreign funding from sources like Qatar and Turkey to influence Arab voter turnout and commit electoral corruption.
04The police have found no evidence supporting the interference claims, and the Ra'am party has denied them.
05Sohlberg clarified that his remarks were not meant to cast doubt on the voting participation of the Arab community.
06A joint investigation team comprising the Shin Bet, Israeli police, and the Attorney General's office has been launched to probe the allegations.
07Sohlberg asserted that even if the suspicions of foreign interference are confirmed, they would not invalidate the overall election results.

The allegations involve potential illegal funding from foreign entities, with media outlets pointing to Qatar and Turkey, aimed at influencing the election by boosting Arab voter turnout, as well as claims of electoral corruption. The police have reported no evidence to support these claims thus far, and the Ra'am party has denied them. Sohlberg clarified that his remarks were not intended to cast doubt on the voting participation of the Arab community.

Sohlberg stated that while the suspicions are serious, solid evidence is required to overturn election outcomes, and the current evidence does not undermine the results. He confirmed that he instructed the Shin Bet to open an investigation. A joint team comprising the Shin Bet, Israeli police, and the Attorney General's office will investigate the facts, with Sohlberg and Acting Director-General of the Elections Committee Dean Livneh monitoring the situation.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 5 newsrooms. Updated 19:51