The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Noam Solberg, rejected a demand by the Likud party today (Monday) to urgently convene the Committee’s Presidium in light of the ongoing investigation into the “ballot jihad” affair. In his response to attorney Ilan Bombach, he wrote: “I am compelled to turn you away empty-handed.”
Bombach, the Committee’s Deputy Chairman and the Likud representative, had requested that the Presidium be convened prior to the certification of the election results. He demanded that the scope of the suspicions regarding foreign funding, the findings gathered thus far, and the issues yet to be clarified be presented to the Presidium members.
Solberg denied the request, ruling that the investigation falls outside the jurisdiction of both the Central Elections Committee’s Presidium and its plenary. He stated that the requested information is irrelevant to their role in publishing the election results, and that its disclosure could potentially disrupt the work of the investigative authorities.
The Committee Chairman cited a legal provision requiring that election results be published within eight days of the election. “No authority has been granted to any entity—no matter how esteemed or high-ranking—to refrain from publishing the election results,” he wrote.
“Elections have results”
Solberg clarified that the role of the Committee’s Presidium is limited to tallying the number of valid votes and calculating the distribution of parliamentary seats (mandates) based on data received from the polling station committees and the regional committees. According to him, the Committee Presidium lacks the authority to invalidate votes or alter the results.
Furthermore, he stated that the Committee Plenum—which ratifies the Presidium’s calculations—is not empowered to block the publication of the results. “Elections yield results,” Solberg wrote. “These results do not depend on the consent of the majority bloc in the outgoing Knesset, or its representatives.”
He noted that if the Likud party or any other entity wishes to contest the results, the law provides a mechanism to file an appeal with the court following their publication. He added that it is not possible to extend the term of the outgoing Knesset based on allegations currently under investigation; such an extension would require the support of 80 Members of Knesset.
Solberg also rejected the argument that the Committee Presidium should review the actions of law enforcement authorities prior to certifying the results. He stated that the Presidium has no authority to intervene in an investigation or to exercise oversight over the Shin Bet, the Israel Police, or the State Attorney’s Office.
“The information could thwart the investigation”
While denying the request, Solberg emphasized that the allegations remain under investigation. “A vigorous investigation is underway,” he wrote, adding that the Shin Bet, the Israel Police, and the State Attorney’s Office are working to conclude it as soon as possible.
However, he warned that disclosing information from the investigation to members of the Committee Presidium could jeopardize the probe. “I am certain that this is not your intention, but this would be the result,” he wrote, concluding that he could not accede to the request.
Solberg’s response follows his directive to the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, to investigate serious allegations of improper influence on the elections via foreign funding. He further clarified that the election results reflect the will of the voters and will be published on Wednesday as planned.
Eisenkot attacked – Likud responded
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the ‘Yashar’ party, attacked the Likud party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in light of these developments. “The Likud and Netanyahu are engaged in a desperate rearguard action,” he stated.
According to Eizenkot, “They are continuing, with full force, a destructive and aggressive campaign to delegitimize the election results and the Central Elections Committee. This is a direct assault on Israeli democracy, which underscores the grave danger posed by the continued rule of the Likud and Netanyahu, and their grip on the centers of power and governance.”
Eizenkot added, “This current offensive is the last resort of those who realize the magnitude of their defeat. They have grown accustomed to acting as they please, without boundaries or restraints. Those days are over.” He concluded, “Anyone who thinks they can use intimidation to derail this change fails to grasp the determination and commitment that I and my partners have toward the citizens of Israel.” The Likud responded that Eisenkot “is attempting to prevent the truth from coming to light regarding the grave suspicions presented to Justice Solberg concerning the contamination of elections in Israel by foreign actors, in the context of national security.”