Shin Bet leaders split over expanding foreign election probe
Internal friction has emerged within Israel's domestic security service as its chief pushes for broader investigative tools while senior colleagues argue the current evidence base is too weak to justify them.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
Israel’s Shin Bet is experiencing internal disagreement regarding the scope of its investigation into alleged foreign interference in recent elections. The conflict centers on whether the agency should deploy additional investigative tools, a move that agency head David Zini supports but that three senior officials oppose.
According to a report from KAN News, the division surfaced during internal discussions where Zini clashed with the head of the Shin Bet department handling the case and two other senior figures. The opposing officials argue that the intensity of the suspicions does not currently warrant the use of expanded methods. They contend that the limited scope of the case makes it difficult to gather sufficient evidence to prove criminal offenses occurred.
The friction arises amid specific uncertainties about the case. Investigators are examining money received by a Knesset member from the Joint List, which is alleged to have originated from Qatar. However, authorities have not yet established the precise source of the funds or confirmed that they were used for illegal election-related activities. A law enforcement source involved in the investigation stated that these gaps in evidence create legal obstacles to approving certain measures without further proof.
A senior Shin Bet official told KAN News that the tools Zini proposes would require special legal authorization. The official noted that obtaining this permission would be difficult given the current limitations on the strength of the suspicions. The Shin Bet responded to the Jerusalem Post by stating that the organization allows for a wide range of diverse opinions in its discussions and does not comment on statements made in closed meetings.
The internal debate comes after Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg addressed the public on Sunday. Sohlberg said that even if the suspicions are substantiated, they do not undermine the integrity of the vote or the final results as a whole. He described the inquiry as covert, relying on classified intelligence, and being run by a joint team from the Shin Bet, police, and prosecution under his supervision.
Sohlberg appeared in a video statement alongside Zini, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, and acting CEC director-general Dean Livne. He explained that the investigation will proceed in parallel with the completion of the election process. Official results are scheduled to be submitted to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, a date that coincides with the start of consultations on forming the next government.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
