Sohlberg Rejects Likud Demand to Hold Election Results for Investigative Briefing

Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg rejected a Likud request on Monday to obtain an investigative briefing before approving Israel’s election results. In a letter to Ilan Bombach, the party’s representative and a deputy committee chairman, Sohlberg said the outgoing Knesset majority and its representatives could not make publication of the results conditional on their consent. “Elections have results,” Sohlberg wrote. Citing Section 11 of Basic Law: The Knesset, he said the results must be published in the official gazette within eight days of voting. He explained that the chairman and deputies calculate valid votes and seat allocations, while the full committee approves those calculations. Those responsibilities, he said, do not confer authority to invalidate votes, replace the outcome or refuse publication. Challenges to the results must follow the legal route through the courts. Bombach had requested an urgent meeting of the committee leadership with Shin Bet Director David Zini before Wednesday’s scheduled session. He sought details of suspected foreign interference, investigative steps and findings, arguing that committee members needed the information before approving publication. His proposal included a classified briefing and confidentiality undertakings. Sohlberg rejected the request, saying the briefing lay outside the committee’s powers and further disclosure was expected to disrupt the investigation. On Sunday, November 1, Sohlberg had said that even substantiated suspicions of foreign funding would not undermine the election or its overall results. His Monday letter said the Shin Bet, police and State Attorney’s Office were working intensively to complete the investigation. The official results were due to be published and submitted to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, November 4.