Justice Noam Sohlberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, responded Monday to criticism from MK Boaz Bismuth (Likud), saying the appointments are 'highly professional' and that the committee is examining itself. Bismuth had earlier questioned the qualifications of recent appointees.
Justice Noam Sohlberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, dismissed criticism from Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth on Monday, calling the recent appointments 'highly professional' and stating that the committee is conducting a self-examination. The response came hours after the exchange unfolded during a security discussion on election preparations, as The Zioneer reported earlier today.
Earlier Monday (Mon 10:10 Jerusalem), the desk reported that Shin Bet Director David Zini warned Iran is actively attempting to interfere in the elections, ranking it the second most concerning threat after mega-attacks. Shortly after, MK Bismuth criticized the committee's appointments as 'troubling' and requiring explanations, with Justice Sohlberg initially defending them as professional. The current update adds Sohlberg's more detailed dismissal, noting an internal committee review.
The broader political context includes previous criticism of the committee's composition. As The Zioneer reported on Friday, July 17, Likud has attacked the appointments, with some experts suggesting it could lay groundwork to contest election results. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also accused the government on July 6 of portraying Sohlberg as a political enemy for overseeing the election. Right-wing figures have previously flagged left-leaning appointments, as The Zioneer reported on June 17.
Sohlberg did not address the specific qualifications of the appointees beyond his assertion of professionalism. The scope and timeline of the committee's self-examination remain unclear.
8 developments
- DevelopingLikud slams election watchdog appointments, raising fears of challenging election outcome
- StrongJustice Sohlberg, Senior Shin Bet Officials to Join Classified Knesset Hearing on Election Preparations
- StrongShin Bet director's Knesset committee appearance sparks exchange between Bismuth and Sohlberg
- StrongMK Simcha Rothman defends judicial selection reform ahead of High Court ruling
Source and signal
- Open-source intake