Herzog and Sohlberg Defend Election Integrity Against Fraud Claims

Israel's Central Elections Committee officially certified the results of the 26th Knesset elections on Wednesday, despite allegations of foreign interference and claims of electoral fraud. Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg and President Isaac Herzog both defended the integrity of the vote. Sohlberg warned against efforts to cast doubt on the election results, calling such attempts "a real danger" to democracy. He noted that suspicions raised, including by the Shin Bet security agency, remain unverified and do not affect the Arab public's voting, which he called "blessed." The committee reported no irregularities affecting the outcome. Herzog condemned racism against any community and expressed confidence in the Shin Bet and Attorney General's investigations. He urged political factions to show flexibility in forming a coalition, acknowledging that not all pre-election promises can be fulfilled. Consultations on mandating a prime minister began Wednesday afternoon.