Kariv Accuses Zini of Helping Disrupt Election, Says He Cannot Remain Shin Bet Chief

MK Gilad Kariv accused Shin Bet chief David Zini on November 12 of cooperating with an effort to disrupt the election and said he could not remain in office. In a Hebrew post, Kariv alleged that Zini had acted either recklessly and unprofessionally or deliberately. Kariv argued that a Shin Bet chief seeking to question party leaders without evidence should not continue to lead an organization with exceptionally powerful investigative tools against citizens. Zini “cannot continue to head the organization,” Kariv wrote in Hebrew. In a recorded declaration posted by the Central Elections Committee on November 2, committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg said the election to the 26th Knesset had been conducted properly and its results reflected voters’ wishes. Appearing alongside Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Zini, he said serious suspicions concerning foreign funding intended to influence the election would be investigated lawfully by Shin Bet. Sohlberg said challenging election results required solid evidence and rejected the contention that the evidence then available could undermine the overall result. He said a joint team led by Shin Bet would be established and that he would closely follow the inquiry. He also said the suspicions should not cast doubt on Arab citizens’ voting, welcoming broad participation in Arab society and across the country.