Israeli President Warns Against Internal and External Interference in Elections

Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a warning about both internal and external attempts to undermine the upcoming elections in Israel, stating that these actors seek to damage the integrity of the electoral process.

During a meeting held on Thursday with Noam Solberg, head of the Central Elections Committee, and David Zini, head of the Shin Bet security service, Herzog emphasized that "elections are not a civil war but a highly important social, democratic, and political process in the life of any nation." He cautioned that Israel currently faces “hostile foreign digital influences,” alongside other entities operating both inside and outside the country. All these groups aim to harm the election's integrity and to dismantle the Israeli social fabric by exploiting internal divisions and spreading misinformation.

The meeting was convened by Zini as part of preparations for the scheduled national elections. The participants discussed coordination mechanisms among government institutions and various security agencies to ensure a secure, legal, and reliable voting process. Herzog stressed that the primary purpose of the meeting was to support the Central Elections Committee and to guarantee that the elections proceed "according to the applicable rules and laws."

The Israeli president highlighted that the escalating challenges require maximum vigilance and joint readiness from all relevant state bodies. This is necessary to ensure that the upcoming elections remain a genuine and truthful expression of popular will, free from any external interference or internal divisions that could threaten their legitimacy. He underscored that safeguarding the integrity of the vote is a red line that must not be compromised under any circumstances.