Netanyahu Fined for Improper Use of Public Resources in Election Campaign

The Chairman of the Elections Committee, Noam Sohlberg, partially accepted petitions against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ruling that speeches, military visits, and official documentation were used for election propaganda. Netanyahu was personally ordered to pay 29,000 shekels in expenses.

Sohlberg emphasized the severity of using military imagery, stating that it contributes to propaganda and is not a resource available to other candidates. He specifically cited a visit to a military post in southern Lebanon, documented by the Government Press Office (GPO) and shared on Netanyahu's private accounts, as an improper use of public resources. This type of publication, based on a prime minister's visit to a military post alongside senior security officials, is forbidden under Section 2a of the law, Sohlberg determined.

Regarding a speech delivered at the Prime Minister's Office, Sohlberg rejected Netanyahu's claim that it was merely public information. He ruled that statements promising future successes and implying continuity of leadership were intended to persuade voters. The judge noted the personal tone and the implicit negation of opponents' positions in the speech, concluding it was clear election propaganda.

In his decision, Sohlberg ordered the removal of the offending publications and mandated Netanyahu to pay the petitioners' legal expenses. Several petitions were accepted, some partially, and one was rejected.