Herzog Backs AG Baharav-Miara Amid Clash With Shin Bet Over Election Probe
Israeli President Isaac Herzog voiced support for Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara amid a fierce dispute with Shin Bet chief David Zini over alleged foreign election interference, hours before official Knesset results.
President Isaac Herzog expressed his backing for Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara during a phone conversation on Wednesday, sources familiar with the matter reported. The call took place mere hours before the official results of the 26th Knesset elections are set to be unveiled, amid intense political fallout over suspected foreign interference.
The conversation follows an unprecedented public dispute between the Attorney General and Shin Bet Director David Zini. Baharav-Miara issued a sharp statement criticizing the internal security agency, arguing that citizens and public figures cannot be investigated without solid evidentiary justification. She also accused the Shin Bet of withholding investigative materials from a special task force established by Central Election Committee Chairman, retired Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg.
According to officials, Zini recently met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Herzog, and Justice Solberg, where he complained that the Attorney General was impeding a thorough investigation. Reports indicate that Zini sought to question political figures including Mansour Abbas, Ahmad Tibi, and Sami Abu Shehadeh under caution, while allegedly refusing to share intelligence findings with Solberg's panel.
The Likud party launched a scathing attack on Baharav-Miara, accusing her of attempting to conceal the truth and block investigations into alleged foreign electoral tampering. The ruling party claimed the Attorney General was obstructing the Shin Bet and mirroring past handling of sensitive security controversies, while warning against attempts to bury the investigation.
