Likud Election Petition Settled: Fly&Vote to Halt New Flights

The Likud party and the Fly&Vote and Fly&AID initiatives have reached an agreement regarding flights for Israelis abroad during election periods. The compromise, brokered by Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg, stipulates that while existing flight prices will remain unchanged, no new flights will be offered by the initiatives. The respondents will also pay 10,000 shekels in expenses.

The petition was filed by Likud, which argued that the initiatives, designed to help Israelis living abroad vote, constituted an illegal benefit intended to influence voters. The respondents countered that they were not providing any financial benefit or advantage with economic value.

During the discussion, Judge Sohlberg urged the parties to find a resolution. He also noted the importance of the issue, especially during an election period, and reminded participants of election laws concerning the provision of benefits. While not ruling on the merits of the case, he emphasized that "all those involved in election matters should be careful and vigilant in such cases."

Fly&Vote, operated by the American AID Coalition, aims to facilitate voting for eligible Israelis residing overseas. The initiative states on its website that it does not fund travel costs, with participants bearing their own ticket expenses. It presents itself as non-partisan and unaffiliated with any political preference. Ahead of the elections, the initiative had opened blocks of seats and offered dedicated flights from locations including New York and Lisbon in response to demand from Israelis.