AG: No evidence foreign funds changed Israel election results

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said Sunday that she is not aware of an evidentiary basis that could have affected the results of the Knesset 26 elections, in remarks delivered at the Justice Ministry's annual conference in Eilat.

"I am not aware of a basis that has, even approximately, the potential to affect the election results or to support a claim of influence that could lead to a change in the election results," Baharav-Miara said. She added: "If additional and new information that has not yet been presented is brought before us, it will be examined and handled according to the law."

The attorney general's statement comes against the backdrop of a demand by Shin Bet chief David Zinni to open a cautioned investigation against four senior Arab politicians, including Ta'al chairman Ahmad Tibi, Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas, and Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh. The suspicions relate to the funneling of funds from foreign countries with the aim of influencing the elections.

Baharav-Miara emphasized in her remarks that decisions regarding investigations are made on a professional basis only. "When there is an evidentiary basis, anyone who needs to be investigated will be investigated. This is not a matter of right or left. This is not a matter of Jew or Arab. The decision whether to investigate a person is a professional, substantive and equal decision. That is how it was and that is how it will be," she said.

The attorney general also addressed Central Elections Committee chairman Judge Noam Solberg, saying he "accompanies this matter with professionalism, statesmanship and responsibility, with a deep understanding of the importance of election integrity and public trust in it." According to her, "We will update him on developments."

In recent days, a dispute has arisen between the Shin Bet and the attorney general regarding the evidentiary basis required to open investigations. Shin Bet chief Zinni claimed that foreign elements transferred up to 100 million shekels in an attempt to influence the vote, but no suspect's investigation has yet been approved. "Nationwide deployment, a security aroma, multiple parties, suspects also involved in terror, what more is needed?" Zinni wondered in a conversation with Judge Solberg.

Right: David Zinni; left: Gali Baharav-Miara (Photo: Noam Revkin Fenton, Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

"A poison pill" — response to Mahash law

Baharav-Miara also addressed the Mahash law, calling it "a poison pill" that is destroying Mahash from within. According to her, the law enables persecution of police officers, prosecutors and journalists.

The attorney general's remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing tension between her office and political figures. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir claimed this week that Police Commissioner Danny Levi operates under threats and blackmail from Baharav-Miara. "She pressures him, she yells at him in meetings. He receives shouts from her, and there are several points on which she pressures him," Ben Gvir claimed.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the suspicions of foreign interference in the elections continues. The Shin Bet presented to members of the Central Elections Committee an intelligence update on widespread phenomena of large sums of money being funneled into Israel from foreign countries, originating from parties with hidden and even hostile interests. According to estimates, the phenomenon involves a scale exceeding thousands of people.