Attorney General Blocks Shin Bet Push to Question Arab Lawmakers
Gali Baharav-Miara rejected Director David Zini's request to interrogate senior figures from Joint List, Raam, and Balad amid an investigation into foreign funding in the 26th Knesset elections.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara denied a request from Shin Bet Director David Zini on Tuesday to interrogate senior lawmakers from Arab political parties. The refusal comes amid an ongoing investigation into alleged foreign interference in the 26th Knesset elections.
The Attorney General's office stated that it is not permissible to question citizens or elected officials without evidence to justify such action. The office emphasized that Israel operates under the rule of law. A statement from the office described the decision as a response to erroneous reports by Likud and other coalition factions, who accused Baharav-Miara of delaying the security agency's efforts.
According to reports from Maariv, Zini sought to question Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List, Mansour Abbas of Raam, Sami Abu Shehadeh of Balad, and one other unnamed official. Central Elections Committee chairman Noam Sohlberg had previously approved Zini's request to use technological and surveillance capabilities in the probe. The investigation was initiated following Sohlberg's directive citing severe suspicions of improper influence through foreign funding by entities acting against Israeli interests.
The Attorney General's office noted that the Shin Bet failed to transfer collected investigative materials to the special investigative team over the past few days. This delay, the office said, effectively stalled the handling of the matter. The statement concluded that the law enforcement system is working swiftly to uncover the truth based on the material currently in its possession.
Raam chairman Mansour Abbas called the reports of the investigation unacceptable, describing them as an attempt to tarnish the Arab public. He stated that his party does not fear any investigation and is prepared to appear before law enforcement authorities in accordance with Attorney General directives. Abbas said state authorities must respect the will of voters and uphold the established order of governance. He denied allegations that he had previously backed the investigation.
Likud released a response later on Tuesday, accusing the Attorney General of attempting to conceal the truth from citizens. The party claimed Baharav-Miara was tying the hands of the Shin Bet contrary to the position of CEC chairman Sohlberg. Likud also accused opposition leaders, including Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan, of incitement against the heads of the defense establishment. The party argued that the opposition was emboldened by the Attorney General's decision to reject the investigation request.
Opposition leader Yair Golan said Zini had turned the Shin Bet into a political tool to undermine election results. He called for the Change bloc to form a government quickly to examine appointments made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including Zini. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded the Attorney General be removed, calling her decision proof of her bias. Ben-Gvir claimed she was contaminating the investigation and stated that the officials involved had stolen the elections.
