Shin Bet Investigates Foreign Interference in Israeli Elections

Israel's General (Shin Bet) is focusing its investigation into foreign interference in elections on suspicions of several million shekels transferred from a foreign country and hostile entities to influence the electoral process. Legal analyst Avichai Grintsaig reported this development on Monday. The investigation has moved away from suspicions of using fuel cards or bribing voters. So far, one individual has been interrogated as a suspect and released after several days of detention. These new details emerge following reports that the Shin Bet estimates the transferred sum to be in the millions of shekels, not the previously suggested 100 million shekels, and that the investigation is expected to continue for some time. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Shin Bet head David Zini, and Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg are expected to confer this week. A key point of contention is the nature and scope of the investigation. Zini insists it is not a standard criminal investigation but a security incident involving foreign sabotage of Israel's democratic process. He is seeking approval to employ additional investigative tools beyond the organization's current limited capabilities. The amount of money allegedly transferred has been a subject of fluctuating reports, initially in the hundreds of thousands of shekels, then around eight million, and later up to 100 million shekels, according to information received by i24NEWS. The Shin Bet has also reportedly requested an investigation into Yousef Jabareen, head of the Joint List.