Israel’s Central Elections Committee Chairman, Justice Solberg, said the 26th Knesset elections were conducted properly, while noting that serious suspicions involving funding from foreign entities aimed at influencing the electoral process are currently under investigation.
Solberg made the remarks on Sunday evening during a joint statement attended by the head of Israel’s Shin Bet security service and the government’s legal adviser. He stressed that the election results reflect the will of voters and that their votes will be respected.
“I address you this evening out of the responsibility entrusted to me to safeguard the integrity of the elections and the commitment to present matters as they are. It is important to affirm that your choice at the ballot box will be respected. This is the commitment of the Central Elections Committee to every citizen of Israel,” Solberg said.
He added: “I say with full responsibility that the 26th Knesset elections were conducted properly. If there were any exceptional cases, they are being examined at this time. The election results reflect the will of the voters.”
Solberg explained that much of the information published in recent days about the Shin Bet investigation was inaccurate. He noted that the investigation remains classified and is based on sensitive intelligence, preventing authorities from disclosing details at this stage.
The elections committee chief revealed that serious suspicions had been identified regarding foreign funding intended to influence the electoral process, potentially involving security-related dimensions. He said he had instructed the Shin Bet to investigate the matter in accordance with the law.
He emphasized that “suspicions remain suspicions,” adding that challenging election results requires solid evidence. The government’s legal adviser and relevant authorities are participating in the investigation and monitoring its progress and findings.
Solberg said the investigation would continue until the full truth is established. However, he described claims that the entire election results could be invalidated based on the evidence currently available as incorrect.
He noted that citizens had cast their ballots in record numbers last Tuesday and that their choices would be respected. He added that even if the suspicions were confirmed, this would not undermine the integrity of the electoral process or its overall results.
A joint investigative team has been formed under the leadership of the Shin Bet, with the participation of the Israeli police and the State Attorney’s Office, to establish the facts. Solberg said he would closely monitor the case until the investigation concludes, while electoral procedures continue in accordance with the law.
He also stressed that his remarks did not cast any doubt on voting by the Arab community, affirming that citizens who participated in the elections had exercised their democratic right. He described broad participation by Arab citizens and all segments of Israeli society as welcome.
Solberg concluded by confirming that the official results would be published next Wednesday and submitted to the president as recorded, stressing that voters’ ballots had been counted and their choices would be respected.
