The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee for the 26th Knesset, Supreme Court Deputy President Justice Noam Solberg, sent a letter today (Thursday) to the members of the Central Elections Committee, updating them on developments in the Shin Bet investigation regarding the “ballot jihad” affair. Solberg revealed that some of the suspicions presented to him are extremely grave; however, he clarified that the intelligence gathered thus far has not yet crystallized into concrete evidence. At the same time, he rejected claims that the Office of the Attorney General had obstructed investigative actions, and he sharply criticized the leaking of classified material to the media—including a police legal opinion which stated that there was no basis for the suspicions.
At the beginning of his letter, Solberg noted that the 26th Knesset convened for the first time this week, yet his own work regarding the elections has not yet concluded. He stated that the Shin Bet continues to conduct an extensive investigation, and that he is personally monitoring its progress. Solberg revealed that shortly after the elections, the head of the Shin Bet presented him with intelligence raising serious suspicions, prompting him to order a comprehensive investigation.
“As you may recall, shortly after the elections, the head of the Shin Bet presented me with information raising suspicions—some of them very grave—pertaining to the elections. I instructed him to launch a thorough investigation into the matter to get to the bottom of it—either to refute these suspicions or to substantiate them,” he wrote.
He further emphasized that the Shin Bet worked to safeguard the election process from the very outset, carrying out numerous operations designed to ensure information security. While the specific details of these activities cannot be disclosed, he noted that their contribution was significant. “Their assistance throughout the election period was invaluable. The Shin Bet deserves our gratitude and the public’s trust,” he stated.
Despite the gravity of the suspicions, Solberg clarified that, at this stage, investigators possess no concrete evidence to substantiate the intelligence that was presented. “The investigation is still ongoing. Classified information was presented, which has not yet materialized into actual evidence—and it is possible that it never will; time will tell,” he wrote. He added, “Nevertheless, this information necessitates continued, intensive investigation until the matter is fully exhausted.” Solberg clarified that the current evidentiary situation is similar to what was before the competent authorities on the eve of the statement released to the media last week. This means that, despite the ongoing investigation, the letter presents no evidentiary progress that would allow for a determination that the suspicions have been substantiated. He emphasized that the information must continue to be examined until the investigation is fully exhausted—even if it ultimately turns out that the information is insufficient to establish the commission of any offenses.
One of the key issues Solberg addressed concerns allegations that the Office of the Attorney General placed obstacles in the way of the Shin Bet’s investigation. In the letter, he revealed that he had convened the members of the special investigative team—including representatives from the Shin Bet, the Israel Police, and the State Attorney’s Office—earlier that morning to hear directly from them regarding the conduct of the investigation.
He stated that, after reviewing the matter and speaking with the relevant parties, his impression was that cooperation among the authorities is functioning properly. “I have found that the cooperation between the Shin Bet, the Israel Police, and the Office of the Attorney General is good,” he wrote. He further clarified: “I inquired about and examined this issue with the members of the special investigative team—who are capable and level-headed professionals—and I found no evidence that the Office of the Attorney General refused any investigative requests submitted to it by the Shin Bet.” Solberg added that he had been given an assurance that any future request for an investigation—provided it is based on a suspicion as required by law—would be examined promptly and efficiently, with the aim of uncovering the truth and in accordance with legal requirements. “I was given an assurance—an assurance I trust—that any request submitted, provided it is based on a suspicion as required by law, will be examined promptly and efficiently, with the intention of facilitating the discovery of the truth, and in compliance with the law,” he wrote. Furthermore, he clarified that he would continue to monitor the work of the investigators and would take action to remove any gaps or obstacles he might identify.
A particularly sharp portion of Solberg’s letter addressed leaks from the investigation, which he noted repeatedly hinder the work of security officials. Solberg revealed that the evening before last, he was informed that a classified opinion regarding the investigation had been finalized. Due to its sensitive security nature, it was decided that the document would be delivered by courier the following day.
However, according to Solberg, the core details of the opinion were published in the media even before it reached its intended recipients. “The evening before last, we were informed that a specific opinion concerning the investigation had been completed; as it is classified, it was to be delivered to us by courier the following day,” he recounted. “A short while later—and even before the opinion reached its intended recipients—its main points were published in the electronic media.”
According to him, the opinion reached the Central Elections Committee only on Wednesday afternoon, after its core contents had already been revealed to the public. Solberg clarified that this was not merely a matter of etiquette or procedural protocol, but rather a genuine impediment to the investigation. “My complaint is not about manners or decorum; it concerns the repeated and ongoing harm caused to the investigation—specifically to its security-related aspects—as a result of these leaks,” he wrote. He added, in sharp terms: “Such a leak is a malignant phenomenon. I addressed this today with the utmost severity. The public deserves for this investigation to be brought to its full conclusion.”
In addition to his criticism regarding the leaks, Solberg addressed the numerous reports concerning the investigation, warning against relying on information that does not accurately reflect what is actually taking place. He explained that one of the reasons for releasing the letter is the importance of dispelling the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the affair—especially in light of the media coverage. Solberg noted that regarding the many reports on the subject, “I regret to say that most are—to put it mildly—inaccurate.”