During a session of the Knesset Interior Committee on Monday, 24 Adar I 5774, MK Rabbi Uri Maklev expressed concerns over the fairness of the reelection. Regarding the decision that only civil service employees will be permitted to man voting station, Maklev requested adding a stipulation that it must be civil servants that have absolutely no connection to ministers and other interest groups to maintain neutrality.

The committee addressed reelections in Beit Shemesh and Nazareth in two weeks as per a decision from the Supreme Court. The elections are set for 9 Adar II.

The committee was shown the instructions from the Interior Ministry regarding the reelections which state “Whereby it was determined that all functions including staffing polling stations, the secretary of polling station, and other assistants will only be state employees who have experience in managing elections, and only those who are non-residents of the cities where elections are being held.”

Maklev feels in light of the regulation from the ministry, it would be proper to add the stipulation that the civil servant must not be attached to a cabinet minister that has interests in the election. “Ministers from Yesh Atid, Bayit Yehudi and Yisrael Beitenu are interested parties and they make no effort to hide this”. Therefore Maklev want to make sure the civil servants assigned to polling stations are in no way connected to these parties and their ministries.

Maklev added “we have received information” that there will be efforts to disrupt elections and to create an air of fraud and corruption towards delaying of the elections and the results.”

Maklev is calling for increased police involvement, especially the 433 investigations unit, calling upon relevant police officials to interrogate those very same people who are hiding under the banner of integrity in the elections when in actuality, they are involved in prohibited activities towards influencing the outcome of the elections.”

Maklev continues to speak of the incitement against the chareidi tzibur and its candidate, citing this exists in the Interior Committee session on the elections too.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)