Shin Bet Chief Backtracks on Interrogation of Arab Lawmakers

David Zini, the head of the Israel Security Agency, walked back his agency's request to question Arab members of Knesset on Wednesday. The clarification came after a public disagreement with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over the legal basis for the probes.

The Shin Bet is currently investigating allegations that foreign states, specifically Qatar and Turkey, moved funds into Israel to sway voting behavior in Arab communities during the recent elections. The inquiry began after Central Elections Committee chairman Noam Sohlberg cited severe suspicions regarding foreign influence.

Maariv reported earlier in the week that Zini requested interviews with Joint List lawmaker Ahmad Tibi, Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas, and Balad party leader Sami Abu Shehadeh. A fourth official was named in the request but has not been identified publicly.

Baharav-Miara rejected the request on Tuesday. Her office stated that the lawmakers held parliamentary immunity and that the agency lacked sufficient evidence to justify the interviews. A statement from the Attorney General's office noted that it is not permissible to interrogate elected officials without proof, emphasizing that Israel operates under the rule of law.

The Shin Bet responded through N12 television, stating that its initial request was to investigate individuals in the lawmakers' circles rather than the Knesset members themselves. The agency also denied reports that it intended to withhold information from the police, asserting that full cooperation exists between the two bodies.

Zini told Sohlberg that he would follow the Attorney General's instructions to the letter. He stated, “I will not move an inch from what the Attorney General instructs me to do. I will not allow the country to be set on fire.”

On Wednesday, the security agency presented intelligence suggesting that large sums of money from foreign entities were transferred into Israel to influence the 26th Knesset elections. Officials described the funding as a widespread phenomenon that could involve thousands of people. The agency said further intelligence gathering is needed to determine the full scope of the issue.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged Zini to arrest and interrogate Arab party leaders immediately, even without the Attorney General's permission. He called for a halt to the ratification of election results and the formation of a new government. Ben-Gvir claimed, “Elections were stolen here in the State of Israel. We must not stay silent about this, and we must not leave even a single stone unturned on the way to exposing the truth.”

MK Yoav Segalovitz, who joined the Ra'am party after leaving Yesh Atid, labeled Zini's actions an immediate danger. Segalovitz argued that the Shin Bet chief is acting in violation of the Shin Bet Law and serving as an instrument of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He criticized the lack of evidentiary basis and the failure to transfer materials to the Israel Police as agreed.

Adalah, a legal center focused on Arab minority rights, accused Zini of trying to cast doubt on the election results. The organization stated that the moves aim to intimidate elected representatives and undermine the democratic participation of Arab citizens. It described the actions as a serious escalation in policies that portray legitimate political activity as suspicious.