Elections Committee Chief Rejects Claims of Security Threats to Vote
Acting Central Elections Committee Director-General Dina Livne refuted claims of concrete security threats delaying the vote, stressing that elections will proceed as scheduled.
The acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, Adv. Dina Livne, pushed back against claims by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding concrete security threats aimed at disrupting the upcoming Knesset elections.
Speaking at the "People of the State" conference hosted by ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, Livne stated that the committee has not received any warnings of specific threats from enemies attempting to halt the vote. "I will not reveal intelligence, but we have not been updated on concrete warnings," Livne said. "Our role is to be prepared—and the elections will take place, unless the Knesset decides by a majority of 80 to postpone them."
Combating Foreign Influence and Bot Networks
Livne highlighted that the committee has successfully countered extensive foreign delegitimization campaigns originating from abroad, aimed at eroding trust in Israeli democracy. According to Livne, bot networks have actively spread false narratives suggesting the vote is already rigged, with the explicit goal of fostering domestic division.
"The idea is to cause a rift among us inside Israel. Thankfully, we managed to deal with this threat in close cooperation with security agencies, led by the Shin Bet," Livne emphasized.
AI Challenges and Election Security
Addressing the growing role of artificial intelligence in political campaigns, Livne warned about chatbots and algorithmic tools that tailor responses to users, often relying on unverified internet sources and generating misleading information.
Livne also outlined stringent security measures for election day, noting that the Israel Police will deploy over 23,000 officers nationwide. Protests and demonstrations near polling stations will be strictly prohibited, ensuring that every citizen can exercise their democratic right safely and without interference. Concluding with a firm stance on election integrity, Livne underscored that vote rigging in Israel is virtually impossible due to rigorous, multi-party oversight.