A lengthy meeting took place between Shin Bet Director David Zini and the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Noam Sohlberg, amid developments in the “ballot jihad” affair. During the meeting, which lasted several hours, Zini leveled extremely harsh accusations against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. He alleged that she is obstructing the investigation and preventing a thorough examination of serious suspicions regarding foreign interference in the elections for the 26th Knesset.
These claims follow previous reports by C14, which indicated that Zini had already alerted Sohlberg to obstacles being created by the Shin Bet’s own legal counsel—allegedly in coordination with the Attorney General. As previously reported earlier this week, the head of the agency complained that his hands are tied, and that legal restrictions are preventing him from advancing the investigation to the necessary extent.
Who is trying to halt the “ballot jihad” investigation?
Sources familiar with the details of the investigation claim that Baharav-Miara is not merely imposing limitations on investigative actions; rather, she is actively seeking to confine the inquiry to evidence already gathered, instead of allowing investigators to uncover the full picture. According to them, the Attorney General even blocked investigative actions in real time—a move that could impair the ability to uncover the full scope of the organization currently under scrutiny.
At the heart of the dispute lies the question of whether these are isolated instances of election bribery, or part of a systematic, planned, and large-scale operation designed to influence voting results using funds originating from hostile entities outside of Israel. Sources familiar with the matter warn that the findings uncovered thus far may be merely the tip of the iceberg, and that restricting the investigation at this stage could prevent the full picture from coming to light.
Suspicions of foreign interference are not new. Following information received by the Central Elections Committee, Justice Solberg instructed the Shin Bet (ISA) to investigate serious allegations regarding foreign funding and improper influence on the elections. Meanwhile, as part of a criminal investigation in the Negev, suspects were arrested for alleged involvement in vote-buying on behalf of the Ra’am party. During searches, authorities seized envelopes containing tens of thousands of shekels in cash, alongside ballot slips.
The Concern: Another Sensitive Investigation Destined to Be Buried
Criticism regarding the conduct of Attorney General Baharav-Miara is intensifying, fueled by fears that the investigation might be halted precisely when it needs to be expanded. Sources familiar with the matter claim that instead of allowing the Shin Bet (ISA) to fully exhaust its inquiry and explore all investigative leads, the legal establishment is erecting barriers that hinder the clarification of these suspicions. They argue that allegations of interference by hostile states and entities in the elections cannot be treated as a routine criminal investigation.
These sources further draw parallels between the alleged handling of this case and how—in their view—the “spyware” affair and the case involving the Military Advocate General were managed. They express a genuine concern that, once again, the investigation may be curtailed before all the facts come to light.
Demand Directed at Zini: Disclose Findings to the Public
Earlier today, we reported exclusively that individuals familiar with the details of the “ballot jihad” investigation are pressuring the head of the Shin Bet to disclose the findings and the nature of the suspicions under investigation to the public. According to them, if the alleged attempts to limit the investigation persist, there will be no choice but to take the struggle into the public sphere and release information that can be disclosed without compromising the investigation.
Meanwhile, criticism regarding Zini’s conduct has also emerged from within the Prime Minister’s circle. Sources close to Netanyahu expressed disappointment that the head of the Shin Bet is not acting with sufficient decisiveness vis-à-vis the organization’s legal counsel. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that Netanyahu is not angry with Zini, and that he expects him to act in accordance with the law to protect Israeli democracy from foreign interference.