Sohlberg: Election results stand regardless of Likud approval

The Central Elections Committee chairman rejected Likud’s request to delay the publication of election results pending a security briefing.

Justice Noam Sohlberg wrote to Likud representative Ilan Bombach on Monday, stating that the final vote count does not require the consent of the outgoing parliamentary majority. He emphasized that the results are final and independent of the current Knesset's representatives.

The dispute centers on allegations that Arab parties influenced the outcome through foreign interference. Likud has argued that the committee must review intelligence from the Shin Bet before approving the numbers. Bombach requested an urgent meeting with Shin Bet Director David Zini to discuss these suspicions. He contended that approving the results without this information would be a failure of duty by the committee leadership.

Sohlberg countered that the committee’s role is limited to verifying calculations. Under Section 11 of the Basic Law: The Knesset, results must appear in the official gazette within eight days of the vote. He noted that no legal provision allows the committee to disregard this deadline based on ongoing investigations. Those wishing to challenge the results can do so through the courts.

The completed count gives Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats. This total falls short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. Official results are scheduled to be submitted to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday. The legal framework requires at least 80 MKs to pass legislation extending a Knesset term, a threshold not met by the current composition.

Sohlberg warned that sharing classified details could disrupt the active investigation by the Shin Bet, police, and the State Attorney’s Office. He characterized the request for a briefing as an attempt to extend the outgoing term without proper legislative support. The committee’s plenum and leadership do not have the authority to invalidate votes or withhold publication based on preliminary findings.

Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot criticized the Likud party’s stance on Monday. He described the actions as a direct attack on Israeli democracy and the legitimacy of the elections committee. Eisenkot argued that the conduct undermined the integrity of the electoral process.

Sohlberg previously stated on Sunday that even if foreign funding suspicions were proven, they would not compromise the overall election integrity. He advised against casting doubt on Arab voters specifically. The next step in the process is the formal submission of the certified results to the President this week.