State Comptroller warns foreign interference could undermine integrity of 2026 elections

State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman warns that Israel is unprepared to tackle foreign interference in its elections, in particular the upcoming election in 2026, and says such interference could undermine public confidence in the elections themselves and their results.

Englman referred in particular to the increasing cyber threat from Iran and the multiple incidents in which Iran has recruited Israelis as agents to carry out spying missions inside the country, and called on the government to take action to address the problem.

“We must recognize that foreign influences may emerge and affect our democratic process,” says Englman in a speech at Tel Aviv University’s Cyber Week conference.

“During an election year, the threat will intensify and may jeopardize the democratic process – creating chaos on election day, undermining public confidence in the election system, influencing voters and distorting election results, eroding citizens’ trust in the vote count and results, deepening social division, and more,” he warns.

Englman says that his office is currently conducting a review regarding the government’s conduct in the face of foreign influence in the digital realm, and says that “significant deficiencies” have already been found.

“Government bodies and the Central Elections Committee must come to their senses and improve their readiness to prevent foreign influence on the elections expected to be held in Israel next year.”