Zini reportedly agrees to follow attorney general’s instructions in election probe

Shin Bet director David Zini reportedly agreed to comply with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s instructions during a lengthy meeting Wednesday over an investigation into alleged foreign interference in Israel’s October 27 election. Hebrew media described the talks as an effort to ease tensions after disputes over the evidence needed to question Arab politicians.

Channel 13 reported that Zini committed to supplying the Attorney General’s Office with all relevant evidence and cooperating with her directions. The meeting followed an unusual public reprimand Tuesday from Baharav-Miara, who said Zini had refused to provide evidence concerning three of the four politicians the agency wants to question. She said questioning citizens or elected representatives requires evidence justifying the action.

The three politicians are Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas, Ta’al leader Ahmad Tibi and Balad leader Sami Abou Shehadeh. Hebrew media reports suggested there was sufficient evidence to question the fourth, former Joint List leader Ayman Odeh, over suspicions that he received hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash from a foreign source. Odeh is expected to lose his parliamentary immunity when he leaves the Knesset as new lawmakers take office next week.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who appointed Zini last year, has pressed for an investigation into allegations that leading Arab politicians received foreign funding before the election. Netanyahu has also claimed, without presenting evidence, that the election was stolen, citing very high turnout in Arab communities. Election authorities have maintained that voting was properly conducted and the results are valid.

Senior law enforcement and legal sources sharply criticized Zini in reports carried Wednesday by Israeli media. Sources speaking to Channel 13 accused him of advancing names without supporting evidence and repeating Likud’s political arguments. They also alleged that the Shin Bet’s legal adviser had been sidelined and that Zini was under considerable pressure to dismiss the adviser.

Officials quoted by Channel 12 accused Zini of delaying the transfer of material to police for political purposes, preventing investigators from moving forward. Other officials emphasized that investigations involving public figures require formal approvals. Sources speaking to Ynet similarly questioned whether the agency had supplied enough evidence to justify interrogating lawmakers.

Former Shin Bet director Yoram Cohen, an incoming lawmaker for the opposition Yashar party, told Channel 12 that a possible opposition-led government would examine Zini’s election-related decisions before determining whether he should remain in office. Cohen criticized his professionalism but said the underlying inquiry was legitimate, expressing confidence that the agency had received information about money being transferred to certain people that warranted investigation.

Netanyahu renewed his criticism of Arab-majority parties Wednesday as the election results were certified and presented to President Isaac Herzog. In a video statement, he accused the parties of supporting terrorism and threatening Israel’s Jewish identity. He argued that a government reliant on them could not confront radical Islam and again sought a broad government under his leadership, despite opposition leaders rejecting a coalition with Likud and his far-right allies.

Calling for a rapid inquiry into alleged foreign funding, Netanyahu cited Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg’s position that obstacles to the investigation should be removed. He did not mention Sohlberg’s repeated criticism of attempts to undermine confidence in the election results or his warning that such efforts endangered Israeli democracy.