CEC finds no evidence of compromised election integrity as Likud prepares to file appeal on results

Ahead of the publication of the official election results and after reviewing all of the inquiries submitted to it by political parties and the general public, the Central Elections Committee (CEC) announced on Wednesday it found no evidence of the election's integrity having been compromised.

Simultaneously, Likud is examining the possibility of filing an appeal challenging their validity.

Under Israeli law, Solberg is required to publish the results within eight days of the election date. Once published, an appeal may be filed within 14 days with the Administrative Affairs Court in Jerusalem. Likud is preparing for the possibility of filing an appeal on November 18.

Solberg has already clarified that even if the suspicions prove to be true, this does not necessarily mean that the integrity of the election or its results as a whole has been compromised. Nevertheless, Likud emphasized that the decision on the appeal does not rest with him, but falls under the jurisdiction of the court.

Following Likud's decision to abstain from voting, party MK Amit Halevi announced his resignation from the CEC.

"Until the serious suspicions of foreign interference, which are a national-security concern, as Judge Solberg described them, are cleared up, the Elections Committee has no authority to deliberate on these matters or approve them," said Halevi.

"The fact that, from the very first moment these suspicions emerged, the law enforcement system, headed by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, has done everything in its power to thwart the investigation, as it has done in other investigations, such as those involving the military advocate general and the spyware scandal, makes these suspicions all the more tangible and serious."

"We, as members of the Elections Committee, can and must approve only the free choice of Israeli citizens, not the choice of the rulers of Qatar, Iran, or Turkey," he stated. "I will not vote against my conscience or against the security of the state."

"The Central Elections Committee has failed miserably in its duties," Keisler said, adding that "1,281 complaints remain unaddressed, alongside widespread failures and irregularities outside polling stations in the Arab sector. Justice Solberg will be remembered as someone who abandoned democratic values ​​at the critical moment."

Approximately 250 public-sector attorneys, working alongside committee staff, conducted the reviews over the course of six days.

In total, protocols from 9,069 polling stations were reviewed, and in-depth examinations of voting materials, ballots, and voter registries, were also conducted where necessary.

Acting Director-General of the CEC, Attorney Dean Livne, added that "Every inquiry received from political factions, candidate lists, and the general public was examined on its own merit."

"Where corrections were required, they were implemented based on official records and voting materials," affirmed Livne. "We bear a responsibility toward the voters and the participating lists: to thoroughly investigate every claim, make corrections where necessary, and publish our findings with full transparency."

He concluded by thanking the CEC's staff and legal team for their hard work.

"Thanks to their dedication, we have completed this oversight process and are presenting the public with results that have been rigorously verified and accurately reflect their decision at the ballot box," he said.