Shin Bet head clashes with seniors over foreign interference probe

Internal disagreements have emerged within Israel’s Shin Bet over the scope of its investigation into alleged foreign election interference.

Director David Zini is pushing to expand the investigative tools used in the case. Three senior officials, including the head of the relevant department and two other figures, oppose this move. They argue the current suspicions are too limited to warrant additional measures.

The Shin Bet confirmed the internal debate but declined to comment on specifics from closed meetings. The agency noted that its discourse allows for a wide range of diverse opinions.

The dispute centers on evidence linking Qatar to funds received by a Knesset member from the Joint List. Investigators have not yet established the exact source of the money. They also have not determined if the funds were used for illegal election activities. A law enforcement source said these uncertainties create legal obstacles to approving new investigative measures without more evidence. A senior Shin Bet official added that Zini’s proposed measures would require special legal authorization that may be difficult to obtain.

Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg addressed the situation on Sunday. He stated that even if the suspicions are substantiated, they do not undermine the integrity of the vote or the results as a whole. The inquiry remains covert and relies on classified intelligence. A joint team from the Shin Bet, police, and prosecution is running the probe under Sohlberg’s supervision.

Zini appeared in a video statement with Sohlberg, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, and acting CEC director-general Dean Livne. Sohlberg said the investigation will proceed in parallel with the completion of the election process. Official results will be submitted to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday. That date marks the start of consultations on forming the next government.