Shin Bet Interrogations: AG demands evidence for three Arab leaders

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara issued a public rebuke to Shin Bet chief David Zini on Tuesday, effectively accusing him of undermining democratic norms. The conflict centers on Zini's request to interrogate four Arab politicians in an alleged foreign election interference case. The Attorney General stated that security services cannot question citizens without justifying evidence.

The four individuals named in the inquiry are Ra'am party head Mansour Abbas, Ta'al faction leader Ahmad Tibi, and Balad faction chief Sami Abu Shehadeh. A fourth suspect is a senior Joint List lawmaker whose name is currently sealed from the public. According to reports, Zini has not provided prosecutors with evidence regarding Abbas, Tibi, or Abu Shehadeh. Material exists only for the unnamed lawmaker, for whom investigators reported having a strong consensus on the evidence.

Baharav-Miara requested the evidence before approving the interrogations. She noted that the Shin Bet failed to hand the material to the police, despite the two bodies agreeing just two days earlier to form a joint investigative team. Her office confirmed that the delay has hindered the probe, though authorities are working toward a conclusion. She emphasized that anyone requiring interrogation will be questioned, but those lacking an evidentiary basis will not be.

Political reactions followed swiftly. The Joint List accused Zini of acting as a political arm for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The party stated that Netanyahu is attempting to delegitimize the Arab public, which voted in large numbers against his government. Ra'am leader Abbas said his members were willing to answer any summons but urged authorities to honor the voters' decision. He denounced what he described as an attempt to tarnish the Arab public.

Likud, Netanyahu's party, countered by accusing the Attorney General of blocking the interrogations. The party claimed Baharav-Miara was working to cover up the investigation into alleged election contamination. Likud has also sought to delay the publication of final election results due to ongoing probes. These investigations include an alleged vote-buying scheme linked to Ra'am and a separate foreign interference probe reportedly involving Qatar.

Other opposition leaders joined the critique. Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot warned Zini against politicizing the agency, stating that authorities must serve the country rather than the king. He described the situation as a dangerous constitutional crisis. Democrats party chairman Yair Golan called the reports a grave warning sign and urged opposition leaders to form a government quickly to review Netanyahu's appointments, including Zini's.

Despite the political friction, officials affirmed that the election results remain valid. Netanyahu's coalition lost its majority in the vote. Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg reiterated on Sunday that the election was conducted properly. He appeared in a video message alongside Zini, CEC acting director general Dean Livne, and Baharav-Miara to show unity.