Sohlberg: Election Results Valid Despite Serious Foreign Funding Suspicions

Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg issued a public statement Sunday evening following a meeting with Shin Bet chief David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, assuring Israelis that the results of the 26th Knesset elections reflect the will of the voters despite an ongoing investigation into suspected foreign interference.

Addressing the public, Sohlberg emphasized his responsibility to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the results are respected.

“Your decision at the ballot box will be honored. That is the commitment of the Central Elections Committee to every citizen of Israel,” he said.

“I say to you with full responsibility: the elections for the 26th Knesset were conducted properly. To the extent that there are irregularities, they are being examined in these very days. The election results reflect the will of the voters.”

Sohlberg explained that the statement reflected the joint position of himself, the attorney general, and the Shin Bet chief.

He acknowledged the numerous reports circulating about the Shin Bet investigation, stating that most were inaccurate. He also explained that the investigation remains at a covert stage and involves classified intelligence, limiting what can currently be disclosed to the public.

Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of transparency wherever possible.

“Recently, serious suspicions requiring examination have come to light, relating to funding from foreign sources intended to influence the election campaign, which may also have a security dimension,” Sohlberg said.

“Following the information presented to me, I instructed the Shin Bet to investigate the suspicions according to law.”

He cautioned against treating the allegations as established facts or assuming they could invalidate the election results.

“Suspicions are suspicions. Overturning election results requires solid evidence.”

Sohlberg confirmed that the attorney general and other relevant authorities were involved in the investigation and were being kept informed of its progress and findings.

While describing the allegations as serious, he rejected suggestions that the evidence currently available could justify overturning the election results as a whole.

“The citizens of Israel voted this past Tuesday in record numbers. They expressed their position, and it will be honored,” he said.

Sohlberg emphasized that, in the view of the authorities, even if the suspicions are substantiated, they would not undermine the integrity of the election process or its overall results.

He announced that a joint investigative team involving the Shin Bet, Israel Police, and the State Attorney's Office would be established to examine the allegations thoroughly.

The Central Elections Committee chairman will continue monitoring the investigation until its conclusion, while the remaining election procedures proceed as scheduled.

“These two duties do not contradict one another; they are intertwined,” Sohlberg said, referring to the need to investigate potential wrongdoing while respecting the democratic process.

He also stressed that the investigation should not be interpreted as casting suspicion on Arab voters.

“Citizens who went out to vote exercised their democratic right. Broad participation in elections is a welcome thing in the Arab community, and in every public in Israel.”

Sohlberg pledged to provide further updates based on verified information, subject to the restrictions necessary to protect the investigation.

The Likud party criticized Sohlberg's statement, questioning how he could acknowledge serious allegations of foreign funding while also expressing confidence that the election results would remain unaffected.

“It is very puzzling how Justice Sohlberg says these are very serious suspicions of foreign funding, and at the same time determines in advance that they have no effect on the election results before the investigation has been completed,” the party said.

Likud pointed to the narrow vote margin that it said could have changed the distribution of Knesset seats.

“Only 4,612 votes separated the transfer of a seat from Ra'am to the right-wing bloc, something that would have completely changed the election results and the political map.”

The party called for an urgent and comprehensive investigation to protect the integrity of the elections and the sovereignty of Israeli voters.

“Until the investigation is completed, a black cloud hangs over the election results in Israel,” Likud concluded.