📰 1 source 8 articles · 3 Nov 2026, 19:03 → 9 days ago

Crisis between the Shin Bet and the Legal Advisor over the investigation into foreign interference in Israeli elections

A crisis has escalated in Israel between the Shin Bet and the government's legal advisor over the investigation into suspicions of foreign interference and extensive funding in the elections, with the Shin Bet requesting the interrogation of four politicians from Arab parties and the issuance of warnings to them. At the same time, the Likud party demanded that restrictions on the Shin Bet be lifted and that Arab MKs be investigated, while Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List (Ra'am), responded to media briefings about the investigation. No investigation materials have yet been handed to the police, amid anticipation of a first meeting between the Shin Bet and the police.

📍 Where things stand: The situation remains defined by a breakdown in communication between the Shin Bet chief and the legal advisor and the non-transfer of any investigation materials to the police, with a first-of-its-kind meeting between the Shin Bet and the police expected.

⏱️ Timeline

3 Nov 2026, 19:03 The Likud party demanded that the Israeli government's legal advisor stop what it described as covering up the election-tampering scandal by foreign parties and delaying the investigation into it, cease restricting the powers of the Shin Bet, and allow the investigation of Knesset members from Arab parties and their aides. The legal advisor rejected Likud's claims regarding the investigation into foreign interference in the elections, stressing that she would not delay the investigation.
3 Nov 2026, 20:18 The Hebrew i24 channel reported that the head of the Shin Bet, Zini, requested the interrogation of four prominent politicians from Arab parties in Israel along with the issuance of warnings to them: a prominent Knesset member whose name is legally barred from publication and regarding whom it spoke of a consensus on strong evidence against him, the head of the Arab Movement for Change Ahmad Tibi, the head of the United Arab List (Ra'am) Mansour Abbas, and the head of the National Democratic Assembly Sami Abu Shehadeh.
3 Nov 2026, 20:37 The Hebrew news site Saha Al-Akhbar reported that Shin Bet chief Zini was at that time meeting with the head of the elections committee, Solberg, claiming that the government's legal advisor was obstructing the investigation into election corruption cases.
3 Nov 2026, 23:38 Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List (Ra'am), responded to the media briefings about the investigation into the heads of Arab parties, considering attempts to smear the Arab public opinion to be wrong. He stressed that Ra'am does not fear any investigation and is ready to appear before law enforcement authorities, calling on state authorities to respect the voters' choice, act wisely and responsibly, and adhere to the law and public order.
3 Nov 2026, 23:38 The Likud party launched a sharp attack on the government's legal advisor, accusing her of trying to hide the "real investigation" from Israeli citizens, restricting the work of the Shin Bet, and refusing to allow the investigation.
4 Nov 2026, 09:54 The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz reported that the Shin Bet presented an update to members of the Central Elections Committee regarding suspicions of foreign interference in the elections, noting the transfer of enormous sums of money to Israel from foreign countries originating from parties with hidden and even hostile interests, aimed at boosting foreign influence. The agency explained that funding and foreign influence operations involving massive sums are a widespread phenomenon exceeding thousands of people and possibly more.
4 Nov 2026, 10:24 The Hebrew Kan channel reported that communication had broken down between the Shin Bet chief and the government's legal advisor since the joint statement with elections committee head Solberg on Sunday. The channel added that the agency had not handed investigation materials to the police and had not communicated with Miara regarding the investigation procedures.
4 Nov 2026, 21:01 The Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom reported that representatives of the Shin Bet and the Israeli police would meet the next day for the first time, amid suspicions of foreign interference in the elections. So far no materials related to the investigation had been handed to the police, despite Solberg's decision to form a joint investigation team.