Israeli Election Committee Rejects Bid to Ban Smotrich Campaign Ad

The chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Noam Sohlberg, has decided not to disqualify a campaign advertisement by Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionism party. The ad depicts Supreme Court justices and the Attorney General being forcibly dragged. Sohlberg addressed claims that the depiction was threatening, stating, "It is doubtful whether they feel threatened by it. It is permissible to use the image of a senior public servant to express criticism of them."

The video sparked significant backlash from the center-left bloc. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the National Unity party, strongly condemned the ad and personally attacked Smotrich, calling him "an evasion instrument and supporter of draft refusal" who "tarnishes and harms the name of an entire sector." Eisenkot added that the ad, released during the High Holy Days and days before Yom Kippur, showed a failure to learn from the October 7th attacks and accused Smotrich of dragging Israeli society into an abyss due to political distress.

Benny Gantz, also of National Unity, issued a brief statement to Smotrich and MK Simcha Rothman, saying, "Bezalel, Simcha, you have learned nothing." Smotrich responded to Eisenkot and Gantz, urging them to present their own alternative legal plan for reforming the justice system. He challenged them to publish their detailed platform for "correcting Israeli democracy," arguing that this issue is central to the upcoming elections and that the public should decide.