Israeli Election Officials Reject Claims of Stolen Vote as Netanyahu’s Party Insists ‘Dark Cloud’ Hangs Over Results

TEL AVIV — Last week’s election was “conducted properly,” Israel’s Central Elections Committee announced amid accusations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partners that the election was “stolen.”On Thursday, the head of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, Justice Noam Sohlberg, ordered the Shin Bet intelligence agency to investigate possible foreign interference in the elections following allegations that Qatar and Turkey had paid Arab-Israelis to vote. “Severe suspicions were brought to my attention about improper intervention in the elections by foreign funding by outside actors that act against the Israeli interest,” Mr. Sohlberg said at the time. But on Sunday evening, Mr. Sohlberg issued a video statement alongside the acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, Dean Livne, as well as Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Shin Bet chief David Zini, saying the election was “conducted properly.”“In recent days, many reports have been published about the ongoing Shin Bet investigation. Most of these reports are incorrect. The investigation is at a classified stage and is based on classified intelligence. At this stage, by its very nature, it is not possible to disclose its details,” he said.“The claim that the evidence currently before us could overturn the election results as a whole is incorrect. Israeli citizens went to the polls this past Tuesday in record numbers. They expressed their views, and those views will be respected,” Mr. Sohlberg added. The justice said that “solid evidence is required to challenge the election results. We will investigate them thoroughly and get to the truth.”Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party responded to the announcement, saying: “Until the investigation is completed, a dark cloud hangs over the election results in Israel.”The Jewish Power party from Mr. Netanyahu’s bloc also lashed out at Mr. Sohlberg, calling it “inconceivable” that he would declare that the election results wouldn’t change amid an ongoing investigation. “We are hearing that the Shin Bet’s legal advisor and the State Attorney are attempting to exert improper pressure on the Shin Bet chief and are not allowing him to complete the investigation. This appears to be a cover-up by a politically motivated legal echelon,” Jewish Power party claimed without offering any evidence. “Were the investigation’s results predetermined? Is someone trying to close the story even before the truth has been uncovered?” the party added. Mr. Netanyahu’s main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, meanwhile offered support for Mr. Sohlberg, saying: “The despicable and malicious attempt to deny the election results, undermine the will of the public, smear an entire community, and drag Israel into another round of elections has failed.”“Only someone who understands that they have lost would be willing to embark on such a blatant campaign of delegitimization — even at the cost of further damaging public trust in the institutions of the state,” he added. Arab parties have also vehemently denied engaging in any sort of fraud with foreign actors. On Wednesday, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog will formally receive the election results from Mr. Sohlberg whereafter he will begin consultations with party leaders to find out which candidate has the best chances of forming a government.

Israeli Election Officials Reject Claims of Stolen Vote as Netanyahu’s Party Insists ‘Dark Cloud’ Hangs Over Results

Israeli Election Officials Reject Claims of Stolen Vote as Netanyahu’s Party Insists ‘Dark Cloud’ Hangs Over Results

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