Shin Bet chief said warning of Iranian efforts to meddle in Israeli election

Shin Bet Director David Zini warned top Israeli officials that Iran and other countries are attempting to meddle in the upcoming Israeli elections, according to a Channel 13 report. The report did not specify how these efforts are manifesting, but sources said Zini looked "very disturbed" by the threat. Israel is set to hold national elections on October 27.

Shin Bet Director David Zini reportedly warned top Israeli officials that Iran and other countries are attempting to meddle in and undermine the upcoming Israeli elections, Channel 13 reported Monday. The report did not specify how these efforts are manifesting, but sources who took part in the meeting told the network that Zini looked "very disturbed" by the threat. Israel is set to hold national elections on October 27. Zini said the effort is at the top of the agency's agenda and the second "most concerning" after the threat of major terror attacks. Zini held a meeting earlier this month with President Isaac Herzog and Central Elections Committee chairman Noam Sohlberg, in which the three stressed their commitment to ensuring the integrity of the election. The meeting came after the state comptroller warned that the government has no national policy to combat foreign election interference, and that Iran and other hostile actors are systematically exploiting social media to deepen social divisions in Israel. The report noted that the Shin Bet only started preparing in January for the upcoming elections while the National Security Council ceased dealing with the matter in August 2025. Foreign actors have previously tried to meddle in Israel's politics, including ahead of the 2022 Knesset elections, with covert campaigns on social media aiming to fracture parties and suppress voter turnout.