Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party announced on Sunday that it has formally requested Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and Central Elections Committee (CEC) chairman Noam Sohlberg to intervene and stop a meeting called by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Police Commissioner Danny Levy. The party warned that the meeting, focused on election integrity, could erode public trust in the electoral process.
The scheduled meeting, set for Sunday, reportedly includes National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir but excludes representatives from the CEC. This controversy arises just two days before the Knesset election on Tuesday, heightening tensions.
Netanyahu’s office dismissed concerns about the meeting’s timing or necessity, stating to Ynet News that such pre-election discussions are standard practice and occur before every election.
Yashar contends that Netanyahu, as a candidate himself, lacks oversight responsibility for election integrity and has no authority over the police commissioner in this context. The party’s appeal was directed to Baharav-Miara and Sohlberg, who lead the body administering the election.
“This unconventional meeting sparks fears of an unfounded attempt to suggest that election integrity is at risk, potentially damaging public confidence in the results beforehand,” the party stated.
Additionally, Yashar accused Netanyahu of possibly aiming to coerce public servants into serving his political agenda.
Reports indicate that Police Commissioner Levy previously declined a similar meeting requested by Ben-Gvir.
Instead, Levy had conducted an election preparedness meeting approximately a week and a half prior with Dean Livne, the CEC’s acting director-general.
That session addressed police readiness for election day, ensuring public order, and facilitating safe voting procedures.
Levy emphasized that he had strictly instructed officers to refrain from expressing political views while on duty, warning that violations could lead to removal from service. He also noted that police are preparing for various scenarios to safeguard the election’s integrity.
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