Shin Bet Chief Warns: Iran Is Trying to Interfere in Israel’s Elections

The Knesset’s Intelligence Subcommittee convened today (Monday) for a closed-door discussion with Central Elections Committee Chair Justice Noam Sohlberg and senior Shin Bet officials. The meeting comes amid concern over both external and internal interference, and the possibility of harm to the integrity of the elections.

The discussion follows a letter from Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chair Boaz Bismuth to Shin Bet Director David Zini, in which he warned of attempts to interfere in the election system and the growing threat to the integrity of the vote. In his letter, Bismuth wrote that there is a "grave concern over a slippery slope. Alongside threats from outside, it is also necessary to examine the danger of interference from within".

Kan 11 reported that Shin Bet Director David Zini warned, in conversations he held with senior Israeli officials, about attempts to disrupt the elections. According to him, the Shin Bet is dedicating significant resources to dealing with efforts by Iran and other foreign countries to sabotage the election process.

Zini described the elections as the second issue that is “most troubling” the Shin Bet these days, after the threat of mass-casualty attacks, and emphasized that the service will do whatever is necessary to prevent any attempt to disrupt the elections. According to the report, officials who took part in the conversations said that Zini stated he is “very troubled” by the threat. In the closed-door discussion, Zini is expected to present data and metrics on the ability to track covert funds intended for political influence.

Committee Chair Boaz Bismuth said at the opening of the discussion: "Iran will try to turn the election campaign into another front. The upcoming election campaign will be a prime target for Israel’s enemies. The security agencies must also prepare for a scenario involving physical harm to elected officials, first and foremost the prime minister. There is real concern about this. The writing is on the wall".