Israel’s Netanyahu accused of attempting coup after election defeat

Israeli politicians and commentators have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting a coup after his election defeat last week, which followed a historic turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel. They say he is using the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, to undermine the result and retain power. More than a week after the results showed the Netanyahu-led bloc trailing the opposition, Shin Bet chief David Zini is reportedly leading investigations into the Palestinian vote. The inquiries have raised allegations of voting fraud, bribery and foreign interference, despite no evidence being made public. The investigations coincide with Netanyahu’s campaign to delegitimise the Palestinian-led parties Ra’am and the Joint List, which together secured an unprecedented 19 seats in the Knesset. Critics say the effort is aimed at keeping him in power. On Tuesday, the Shin Bet arrested Middle East Eye contributor Abd Abu Shahadeh, citing a “security-related investigation”. Israeli media reported that Zini also wants Palestinian political leaders Ahmad Tibi, Sami Abou Shahadeh, Mansour Abbas and Ayman Odeh questioned. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, warned on Wednesday that Israeli democracy was under threat. “The police are detaining political activists without a warrant. The Shin Bet is trying to question senior elected officials without presenting evidence. The outgoing government refuses to recognise the election results,” he said. Golan later accused Netanyahu of trying to “carry out a coup and seize power by force”. Former prime minister Yair Lapid made a similar accusation on Tuesday, saying Netanyahu was attempting “to crush democracy and steal the elections with the help of sleeper agents of the regime in the security establishment”, an apparent reference to Zini, who was appointed as head of Shin Bet by Netanyahu. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposition bloc, was more measured. He accused Netanyahu of leading “an organised attempt” to “sabotage Israeli democracy” through incitement to violence against elected officials and in the streets, as well as the dismantling of law enforcement agencies. Israel's Shin Bet arrests activist amid incitement over Palestinian electoral gains Read More » Israeli journalists and commentators have also accused Netanyahu of mounting an assault on democracy, describing his actions as an attempted coup. “The prime minister, his circle, and his collaborators in the security branches and the media outlets are energetically driving Israel into the most critical constitutional crisis in its history,” Haaretz journalist Amos Harel wrote on Wednesday. Netanyahu was attempting a “regime coup”, Harel said, using tactics familiar from “the playbooks of dark regimes”. He cited the use of the secret service, incitement against minorities, threats of violence and refusal to recognise election results. An opinion piece in Calcalist, a mainstream Israeli financial news outlet, levelled similar accusations against Netanyahu and the Shin Bet. “Refusing to recognise the election results is a significant escalation,” journalist Moshe Gorali wrote, arguing that the government was following a “familiar dictatorial-fascist protocol” by using a loyal intelligence service to overturn the outcome of an election. Ynet journalist Ronen Bergman said Israel was “in the midst of a coup attempt”. Shin Bet involvement Israel’s Central Elections Committee formally handed the election results to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, dismissing the allegations of widespread electoral fraud. Meanwhile, the Shin Bet continued investigations in what critics said was part of the prime minister’s efforts to challenge the results. A source familiar with the Shin Bet’s election-related investigations told Ynet that the inquiries lacked even basic evidence. “Zini has no idea what his role is, what the law says, or how he stands in relation to the law,” the source said. “To investigate a Knesset member, you need more than speculation.” Zini was appointed as head of Shin Bet by Netanyahu last year, sparking criticism over his far-right views. A former senior army officer and a settler in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, Zini has long had close connections to the settler movement. How an election defeat triggered a carnival of racism against Palestinians Read More » He has reportedly said that Shin Bet chiefs "have to act according to the law, but they are first and foremost subordinate to the prime minister". According to Ynet, more than 1,000 allegations of election fraud were examined. None was found to be credible. Haaretz reported that only one Shin Bet investigation into the election began before voting day on Tuesday. The remaining inquiries, involving Palestinian political leaders and activists, were launched after it became clear that Netanyahu’s bloc had lost. A law enforcement source told Channel 13 News that Zini was “throwing out names without evidence and echoing Likud’s talking points”. The source accused him of triggering the most serious crisis of confidence in the Shin Bet in decades. “If it becomes clear that the statements have no basis, this cannot simply be ignored,” the source added, suggesting Zini’s position should be called into question if the investigations produce no evidence. Channel 12 News provided further details of the Shin Bet’s actions since election night. In a report published on Wednesday, the broadcaster said the inquiries were being directed by Zini’s deputy, whom it described as “very close to Netanyahu”. According to the report, the unnamed deputy is overseeing the inquiries and directing investigators, despite law enforcement officials believing there is insufficient evidence to bring charges against the suspects.