Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara stated on Sunday that her office has not identified any findings in the investigations into possible election fraud that would significantly influence the results of last month’s vote. Her comments were made during a seminar at the Justice Ministry in Eilat on Sunday night. The attorney general emphasized that while her team continues to examine the situation, no current evidence suggests the outcome of the election has been altered.
These remarks come amid heightened political tension surrounding two separate investigations into electoral misconduct. One probe is led by the Shin Bet, while the other is being conducted by the police. The attorney general recently objected to a request by Shin Bet chief David Zini to question three leaders of Arab political parties. She argued that the necessary evidence had not been provided to justify such interrogations.
The ongoing probes have caused significant unrest in the country. The Likud party and other right-wing groups have claimed that the elections were stolen, although they have not released supporting evidence for these assertions. In response, Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party, accused these parties of using the situation to illegitimately undermine public trust in the electoral process. Additionally, senior law enforcement officials have reportedly criticized Zini, suggesting his conduct of the investigation was driven by political motivations rather than purely procedural needs.
Baharav-Miara clarified her stance by stating that she is not aware of any basis that could even remotely influence the election results or substantiate a claim that the outcome was altered. She assured the public that any new information that emerges will be properly examined. She stressed that the decision to investigate or question individuals is a professional, objective, and equitable matter, independent of political affiliation or ethnicity.
The attorney general also praised Noam Sohlberg, the Deputy Supreme Court President who chairs the Central Elections Committee. She noted that Sohlberg is monitoring the situation with professionalism and impartiality, driven by a deep understanding of the importance of electoral integrity. She confirmed that her office would keep him updated on developments to ensure transparency and public trust in the process.
Speaking at the same event, State Attorney Amit Aisman reinforced the attorney general’s points. He insisted that in a democratic state, law enforcement agencies require an evidentiary foundation before questioning any citizen. Aisman highlighted that this standard is particularly important when individuals are questioned under caution, ensuring that investigations are justified and fair.
The Shin Bet and other agencies are currently probing allegations that one or more foreign states funneled money to the Joint List of Arab parties through disguised donations. Simultaneously, the police are investigating separate allegations of vote-buying in the Negev region. These parallel investigations have become a focal point of the national debate regarding the legitimacy of the recent election.
Channel 12 news reported on Saturday night that both electoral fraud investigations are facing difficulties and may be falling apart. Specifically, the report indicated that the vote-buying case is expected to be closed soon. Sohlberg has previously stated on several occasions that even if the alleged fraud were proven true, its extent would not be great enough to influence the final election results.
Despite these assessments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies have continued to cast doubt on the validity of the vote. Likud is preparing to appeal the election results, either in part or in whole. The party’s lawyer told The Times of Israel on Saturday that the appeal is based on allegations that Arab political parties used electronic means to track voters and boost turnout, a practice banned by the High Court of Justice.
