Israel’s Central Elections Committee chair, Justice Noam Sohlberg, has ordered the Shin Bet domestic security agency to investigate allegations of foreign interference in the country’s 2026 election following claims of electoral malpractice by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party.
In a letter to Shin Bet chief David Zini, Sohlberg cited information raising “serious suspicions” that foreign entities had funded attempts to improperly influence the election. He said he could not independently vouch for the allegations but considered their possible foreign links sufficient grounds for an investigation. Shin Bet has been asked to submit its findings within a week.
Sohlberg said the inquiry was important for protecting electoral integrity and maintaining public confidence in Israel’s democratic process.
Netanyahu Alleges Electoral Malpractice
Netanyahu has accused Arab parties of undermining the election through alleged bribery, threats, violence and other electoral offences. He said Likud was submitting hundreds of testimonies and pieces of evidence to the police, Shin Bet and the Central Elections Committee.
His allegations include claims that cash was distributed alongside Ra’am party slips at Arab polling stations, polling staff faced intimidation, some voters cast ballots multiple times, duplicate identities were used and ballot-envelope counts did not match registered voters.
Netanyahu also alleged that prohibited software had been used to mobilise voters. He called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of anyone found guilty.
These remain allegations, and the ordered investigation is intended to establish whether evidence supports or refutes suspicions of foreign involvement.
Election Projections Leave Government Formation Uncertain
The political situation remains unsettled, with projections indicating that neither the Netanyahu-led coalition nor the opposition bloc has reached the 61 seats required for a Knesset majority.
Likud is projected to emerge as the largest party with 26 seats. However, its bloc, including United Torah Judaism, Shas and Otzma Yehudit, is projected to secure 53 seats.
The opposition grouping, comprising Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar, Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad, Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu and Yair Golan’s The Democrats, is projected to win 48 seats.
Arab parties, including the Joint List and Ra’am, are projected to secure 19 seats, placing their potential role in post-election negotiations under scrutiny.
Arab Parties Could Influence Coalition Talks
With neither major bloc projected to reach a majority independently, discussions about possible alliances are expected to shape the next stage of government formation.
Some have called for the opposition to seek support from Arab parties to assemble a majority and prevent Netanyahu from remaining in office. The projected seat distribution leaves the next government’s composition uncertain.
The Shin Bet investigation adds another dimension to the post-election political contest, with authorities now tasked with examining claims that foreign funding may have improperly influenced the vote.
Relevant Link: Israel’s Central Elections Committee
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