A major disagreement has emerged within Israel’s Shin Bet over the investigation into suspected foreign interference in last week’s Knesset elections, with three senior officials opposing Director David Zini’s efforts to expand the probe and deploy additional investigative measures.

According to a report by Kan News, Zini wants to broaden the investigation and utilize additional tools available to the security agency. However, three senior Shin Bet officials believe the measures are not justified based on the evidence gathered so far.

The disagreement surfaced during an internal meeting chaired by Zini. Among those opposing his proposal was the head of a Shin Bet department directly involved in investigating the suspected election interference, along with two other senior officials.

The three officials reportedly argued that expanding the use of the agency’s investigative capabilities would be disproportionate to the scope of the suspicions currently under examination.

One senior Shin Bet official, who discussed the matter with law enforcement authorities, also raised concerns about whether the proposed measures could receive the necessary legal authorization.

According to the official, the additional investigative tools Zini wants to employ require special legal approval, and there are doubts that such authorization would be granted given the evidence currently available.

The dispute comes amid an ongoing investigation into allegations that foreign money was used to influence voting in the elections. Investigators are examining the source of the funds, the identities of those involved, and whether criminal offenses were committed.

Responding to the report, the Shin Bet said that the agency and its director conduct professional discussions that allow a wide range of differing opinions to be expressed. The agency added that it does not comment on discussions held behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, Central Elections Committee chairman Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg addressed the suspected foreign interference on Sunday, stating that even if the allegations are substantiated, that alone would not be sufficient to change the election results.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing efforts to determine the origin of the suspected funding and identify those responsible for any criminal activity.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)