Shin Bet Chief Zini Says Election Is Running Properly During Knesset Visit

Shin Bet director David Zini visited the Central Elections Committee's control center at the Knesset in Jerusalem on October 27, as Israelis voted for the 26th Knesset. Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg and acting director-general Dean Livneh hosted the visit, which included a tour of the departments overseeing election-day work. Zini said voting was proceeding well so far and thanked Sohlberg and the committee's staff for their intensive preparations. He described the level of participation as high, without giving a turnout percentage. Zini said: "The elections are supervised and are proceeding properly and in an inspiring manner." His assessment concerned the progress of election day at the time of his visit. Sohlberg thanked Zini for the attention he had given election preparations. He recalled discussing those preparations with him six months earlier, following three difficult years of war in which, Sohlberg said, the Shin Bet had also helped the army. He praised the work that had brought the election operation to this point. The committee chairman said reports from polling stations indicated long queues. While acknowledging that waiting was unpleasant, he welcomed voters' continued participation and expressed hope that the day would continue that way. The Knesset control center gathers reports from across the country, maintains the operational picture and coordinates responses to needs arising at polling stations.