New details have emerged about the sensitive investigation into suspected foreign interference in Israel's elections: Shin Bet director Ronen Bar made an unexpected appearance at the Knesset Wednesday evening and presented Central Elections Committee chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg with a briefing on the agency's operations following concerns about foreign influence on the vote.
According to a report by Michael Shemesh, Bar presented Sohlberg and acting Central Elections Committee director-general Din Livneh with information and documents related to the Shin Bet's findings during the meeting. The materials raised troubling concerns but did not include conclusive evidence establishing the suspicions, the report said.
Following the presentation, Bar requested guidance on how to proceed with the matter. Sholberg instructed him to continue examining the findings and later sent him formal written instructions.
A source familiar with the details said there is a gap between the information presented in the meeting and some of the reports published in the media. "The information circulating in the media at this stage is not relevant to what Bar presented," the source said, adding that the investigation is being conducted under heavy secrecy.
The source stressed that Ra'am is not the sole focus of the investigation, and that a significant portion of the information circulating publicly is inaccurate, and the discourse surrounding the suspicions goes beyond the facts known at this stage.
"There is wild exaggeration in the discourse around this affair," the source said, referring to the publications and accusations raised since the investigation was revealed.
The affair erupted against the backdrop of suspicions of foreign interference in the elections, particularly suspicions of funding intended to influence voting in Israel.
Various publications have mentioned Qatar as the country suspected of involvement. Ra'am has denied any connection to the affair, and Qatar has rejected the claims of interference in the elections.
