The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg, delivered a special statement this evening (Sunday) alongside Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the Head of the General Security Service (Shin Bet), David Zini. He clarified unequivocally that, despite serious allegations regarding foreign funding and interference in the elections for the 26th Knesset, the results will remain unchanged and will be submitted to the President of the State on schedule.
3+Solberg asserted that the democratic process remained sound and that the existing evidence is insufficient to alter the distribution of parliamentary seats or the outcome of the voters’ decision. “I address you this evening out of the responsibility entrusted to me to safeguard the integrity of the elections, and out of a commitment to present the facts as they truly are,” Solberg began. “First and foremost, I wish to emphasize: your decision at the ballot box will be respected. This is the Central Elections Committee’s commitment to every citizen of Israel. I state with full responsibility: the elections for the 26th Knesset were conducted properly. Any irregularities that may exist are currently being examined. The election results reflect the will of the voters.” Solberg noted that the heads of the legal and security establishments were standing alongside him, and clarified that they were speaking with one voice: “Beside me are the Attorney General and the Director of the Israel Security Agency (ISA). We stand here together, and what I am about to tell you is agreed upon by all three of us. In recent days, much has been published regarding an investigation currently being conducted by the ISA. Most of these reports are inaccurate. The investigation is in its covert phase and is based on classified intelligence; naturally, its details cannot be disclosed at this stage. Nevertheless, it is our duty to provide you with the information that can be released and to clarify its significance.”
Continuing his remarks, the Committee Chair detailed the nature of the information that prompted the inquiry, while drawing a clear distinction between the mere existence of suspicion and the legal capacity to alter the certified election results: “Serious suspicions requiring examination have recently emerged, concerning funding from foreign sources intended to influence the election—funding that may also have security implications. Based on the information presented to me, I instructed the Israel Security Agency to investigate these suspicions in accordance with the law. It is important to clarify: suspicions are merely suspicions; challenging election results requires solid evidence.” He further added: “The examination is underway; the Attorney General and all relevant authorities are involved in the investigative efforts and are being kept updated on its progress and findings. The suspicions raised are serious; we will investigate them thoroughly and get to the bottom of the truth. At the same time, the claim that the evidence currently before us could undermine the election results as a whole is incorrect. The citizens of Israel voted in record numbers last Tuesday; they have expressed their will—and that will shall be respected.”
3+Solberg further clarified the position of law enforcement and legal authorities, stating that even if the investigation confirms the findings, it would not serve as grounds to invalidate the votes cast: “It is our position that even if the suspicions are substantiated, this would not detract from the integrity of the electoral process or the election results as a whole. The examination of these suspicions will be pursued with the utmost seriousness. A joint task force—comprising the Shin Bet, the Israel Police, and the State Attorney’s Office—will be established to uncover the truth, and the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee will closely monitor the matter until the inquiry is concluded.”
He noted, “Meanwhile, the electoral process will proceed as scheduled. These two obligations are not in conflict; rather, they are intertwined.” Furthermore, he added: “I wish to clarify one more point: nothing stated here is intended to cast aspersions on the votes cast by the Arab community.” “Citizens who went out to vote exercised their democratic right. Broad participation in the elections is a welcome development—both within Arab society and among any other segment of the Israeli public.”
3+In closing, Solberg pledged to continue keeping the public updated with verified information, affirming that the established political and legal timetable would proceed as planned, without delay: “Citizens of Israel, on election day, you made your voices heard. It is our responsibility to uphold your decision and complete the process in accordance with the law. This coming Wednesday, the official results will be released and presented to the President of the State, exactly as they stand. The results will be published on schedule. Your votes have been counted. Your decision will be respected.”
Solberg’s statement comes at the height of the “ballot jihad” affair—an extensive security and criminal investigation currently being conducted by the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and the Israel Police. The probe centers on suspicions of massive electoral bribery and foreign interference by hostile states in the elections for the 26th Knesset. The investigation, which initially began with allegations regarding the distribution of funds and benefits to mobilize voters in the Negev and within Arab society, has expanded significantly following the involvement of the intelligence agencies. Security officials are investigating international funding channels and a dramatic allegation that a Member of Knesset from the Joint List received hundreds of thousands of shekels from a hostile state, with the intent of influencing political activity and election results.
3+The affair has sparked a widespread public and political outcry, with civil society organizations calling for a halt to coalition negotiations until these grave suspicions are clarified. Conversely, the leadership of the Arab parties categorically rejects the accusations. Balad Chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh denounced the arrests, characterizing them as political persecution and an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of elected Arab representatives. At present, the police are proceeding with efforts to extend the detention of the primary suspects and are analyzing digital evidence extracted from their mobile devices.