President Isaac Herzog on Thursday warned that hostile foreign actors are seeking to interfere in Israel’s upcoming elections, as he met with Shin Bet Director David Zini and Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg to review security preparations for the national vote.

The meeting, held at the President’s Residence at Zini’s request, focused on election security, logistical preparations, and efforts to protect the integrity of the democratic process from foreign interference and cyber threats.

“There are elements from within, and especially from outside, who seek to influence and sabotage the integrity of the elections and dismantle our society,” Herzog said. “We are here to ensure that this does not happen.”

Calling free and fair elections “a national challenge of the highest order,” Herzog stressed that protecting Israel’s democratic institutions requires close cooperation between all branches of government. “Elections are not a civil war,” he said. “They are a social, democratic and political process that is essential to the life of the nation.”

Justice Sohlberg said safeguarding the integrity of the vote remains the Central Elections Committee’s highest priority. He noted that the committee’s workforce will expand from roughly 60 permanent employees to approximately 90,000 workers on election day to oversee the nationwide process.

Shin Bet Director David Zini said the agency will operate under the authority of the Central Elections Committee throughout the election period and pledged to do everything possible to protect the integrity of the vote.

The public appearance came one day after i24NEWS published recordings in which Zini criticized some of Israel’s elected leadership, prompting political debate. Without directly addressing the recordings, Herzog emphasized that Israel’s security and law enforcement agencies remain loyal only to the State of Israel, its laws, and its democratic institutions—not to any individual or political camp.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)