From the Liveblog of
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Shin Bet: Intel on alleged voter fraud did not come from political source; aspersions should not be cast on entire voting sector
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Shin Bet security agency says its investigation into suspected fraud during the election does not “accuse an entire sector that went out to vote democratically and legally,” amid claims that there had been foreign influence that led to high voter turnout among the Arab community.
The agency says that the information about the suspected voter fraud originated from intelligence it collected regarding foreign influence, and not from “any political party or political actor on either side of the political map.”
Aside from Central Elections Committee chair Justice Noam Sohlberg, no one outside the security agency had access to the information in question until the elections concluded, according to the Shin Bet.
The Shin Bet says it has not yet completed its investigation into the matter, and that “any statements concerning the content or nature of the suspicions do not reflect the agency’s position.”
Upon the completion of the investigation, the Shin Bet says it will present the findings to Sohlberg, “who is the authorized decision-maker on this matter.”
Amid claims that Qatar had sent significant funds to Israel to influence the Arab vote, where turnout was notably high on Tuesday, the Shin Bet says that the investigation is “focused and limited in scope, and does not cast aspersions on or accuse an entire sector that went out to vote democratically and legally.”
“Only those who acted in violation of the law will be dealt with,” the agency says.
The Shin Bet says it is only operating under its legal mandate, and all activities are being conducted by the agency’s professional personnel and legal advisers.
Additionally, the agency confirms that Shin Bet chief David Zini met over the past day with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, and opposition leader Yair Lapid to personally brief them on the main suspicions under investigation.
The Shin Bet says the meetings were with the approval and at the request of Sohlberg.
More from today’s Liveblog:
- Two Palestinians reportedly assaulted by settlers in northern West Bank
- After briefing, Lapid says election interference allegations not enough to warrant vote challenge
- Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of delegitimizing election, vows not to allow obstruction of Knesset’s swearing-in, promises Oct. 7 probe and conscription law
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