Satmar-Affiliated Group Barred From Paying Voters to Abstain
Israel's Central Elections Committee has issued a temporary injunction against Shekel HaTahor, an organization linked to the anti-Zionist Satmar Hasidic movement. The injunction prohibits the group from paying or promising money to voters to encourage their abstention from elections. The decision by Judge Noam Sohlberg came after an urgent request by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel.
The movement alleged that Shekel HaTahor had begun distributing $200 "aid" payments to members of the Hasidic community who stated they would not participate in the elections. The plaintiffs argued these payments could constitute electoral bribery, as Israeli law forbids compensating individuals for not voting.
Judge Sohlberg found a serious risk of electoral law violations that could undermine the integrity of the vote. The injunction remains in effect indefinitely while authorities continue to investigate the association's financial activities to determine if criminal offenses have occurred.
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