Judge Solberg Declines to Overrule Election Delay for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Memorial Event

Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Solberg ruled on Friday that he lacks the authority to review the Attorney General's directive to postpone a memorial event for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef until after the upcoming elections. The directive was issued due to concerns about violating election campaign regulations, as the event, funded by the Ministry for Religious Services, was scheduled to occur close to the election date.

The Shas party had petitioned Solberg to cancel the Attorney General's order and permit the event to proceed as planned. The law stipulates that the memorial event should take place on or around the anniversary of Rabbi Yosef's passing, which falls on the 3rd of Cheshvan. This year, the Ministry for Religious Services planned the event between October 6th and 8th, 2026, coinciding closely with the election period.

Justice Solberg stated that the relevant laws do not grant him the power to overturn the Attorney General's directive or issue a declaratory judgment regarding such an event. He emphasized that his decision does not address the merits of the Attorney General's order itself, nor does it constitute an opinion on whether the postponement is justified.

Solberg clarified that both Shas and the Attorney General can present their arguments in the appropriate legal forums. Consequently, the Attorney General's directive to delay the event remains in effect, but Shas's objections to the postponement have not been decided on their substance.