Sohlberg Directs Shin Bet to Investigate Suspected Foreign Election Funding

Original report Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg has asked Shin Bet director David Zini to investigate suspicions that foreign money was used to improperly influence Israel's election. In a letter dated October 28 and disclosed on Thursday, Sohlberg requested evidence that could substantiate or refute the suspicions, with findings, if any, sought within the coming week. Sohlberg, the deputy president of the Supreme Court, wrote that serious suspicions had been brought before him concerning funding from external actors working against Israeli interests. He expressly qualified that account: “I cannot attest to the nature of these suspicions.” The letter does not name a foreign government, identify a particular party or specify an amount of money. The election chairman asked Zini to do everything in his power to investigate and to use the agency's authority to seek evidence. He linked the request to safeguarding election integrity, preventing unlawful activity aimed at harming democratic government and preventing subversion. He also emphasized the need to protect public trust in the democratic process. Sohlberg tied the requested timetable to the statutory deadlines for election appeals. His request for findings within a week was conditional on findings being available. The letter itself reports no investigative findings and does not establish that the Shin Bet has opened an investigation or that improper foreign funding occurred. Update • On October 29, Sharren Haskel said that if Arab parties were found to have used money from Israel's enemies to influence Israeli democracy, their candidacies should be disqualified and they should face prosecution for treason. Her statement did not establish that such funding occurred. • Gadi Eisenkot said on October 29 that he was receiving updates on suspicions of foreign involvement in the election and called for every complaint to be examined thoroughly. He warned that political actors must not exploit the situation to influence the date of the 26th Knesset's swearing-in. • On October 29, Police Commissioner Dani Levy said every complaint and suspicion of an election-integrity offense would be examined and investigated thoroughly and impartially. He said police would work to establish the truth and enforce the law without exceptions.