Netanyahu Ordered to Remove Campaign Material Using Public Resources
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Netanyahu must remove campaign posts using public resources, ruled the Elections Committee.
- The committee found official visits and government assets were used for electioneering.
- Five of six petitions against Netanyahu's campaign material were accepted.
- Netanyahu was fined 29,000 shekels for using state resources.
- One petition was rejected, deeming a speech primarily informational.
The President of the Israeli Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, has ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove or amend several publications from his official and personal accounts. Sohlberg found that these publications constituted election propaganda that utilized public resources.
The decision followed a review of six petitions filed against Netanyahu concerning speeches and posts containing electoral messages during official events and activities, including military functions and visits to Israeli army sites. Sohlberg accepted five of the petitions, either fully or partially, while rejecting the sixth.
One case involved a publication documenting Netanyahu's visit to a military site in southern Lebanon. Sohlberg deemed the visit itself legitimate for boosting soldier morale, but ruled that the version published on Netanyahu's account focused on showcasing the government's and the Prime Minister's achievements after deleting parts of the speech related to the soldiers and the visit. Sohlberg concluded that using government press office recordings and photos, along with access to a military site unavailable to other candidates, amounted to using public resources for electoral campaign purposes.
The ruling also covered a speech Netanyahu delivered to the army's senior leadership forum, where Sohlberg found the Prime Minister presented government achievements as his personal accomplishments. He ordered the removal of this speech from official platforms and Netanyahu's personal account. Other speeches, including one at a commemoration for Ze'ev Jabotinsky, the Negev Summit, and an officer graduation ceremony, were also addressed.
In contrast, Sohlberg rejected one petition, stating that a speech given by Netanyahu at a "Path of the Torah" event primarily served an informational purpose related to security policy and battlefield conditions, despite containing some political statements.
Under the decision, Netanyahu was obligated to pay 29,000 shekels in expenses to the petitioners. The Elections Committee stated that the use of state resources for election campaigning grants the Prime Minister an unfair advantage over other candidates.
Mentioned
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Left 1Centre 2Right 3Haredi 1Arab 2Other 3
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
