Shin Bet chief approves tech tools in election interference probe; police find no evidence

Shin Bet chief David Zini approved special technological measures to investigate suspected foreign influence on Israel's October 27 election. Police told prosecutors there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Arab party heads, including Ayman Odeh.

Shin Bet chief David Zini approved the use of special technological tools and an operations unit within the Shin Bet to gather intelligence in a case suspected of foreign influence on elections. Haaretz reported that an Israeli security official said these steps are unusual and come at the expense of "other missions related to state security." In response, police emphasize that there is no place for a criminal investigation in this case, and there is no suspicion of security violations, and at most it is a suspected violation of party funding laws. Police also doubt the Shin Bet's suspicions against former MK Ayman Odeh, who is alleged to have received hundreds of thousands of shekels from the Palestinian Authority. The newspaper quoted several sources in law enforcement saying the Shin Bet has so far failed to provide real information to substantiate the suspicion. A senior source added that Shin Bet personnel are exaggerating to satisfy the position of the Shin Bet chief and his deputy, who strongly refuse to back down from the tree they have climbed.