Election Propaganda: Netanyahu Ordered to Remove Air Force Base Video

The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Solberg, has ordered Prime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove a video filmed last week at an Air Force base from his private social media accounts. Solberg ruled that the video contained elements of election propaganda, distinguishing between official government accounts and the Prime Minister's personal ones.

While the video must be removed from Netanyahu's private accounts, Solberg permitted it to remain on the official accounts of the Prime Minister's Office. The ruling came after a petition by the "Attorneys for the Advancement of Proper Administration" organization, which argued that the video, featuring Netanyahu in an Air Force base with a plane in the background, constituted the use of public assets for election campaigning, violating election law.

The video reportedly included Netanyahu discussing security matters, stating "I will not let this happen" in reference to calls for withdrawal from military achievements, and using the first-person plural. Solberg acknowledged the video contained both election propaganda and a public message to other countries, but emphasized the importance of the platform. He stated that publication on official accounts conveys a state message, while personal accounts convey a candidate's message.

Netanyahu and the Likud party were ordered to pay the petitioner 2,500 shekels in expenses, as the petition was only partially accepted. This ruling follows a previous decision by Solberg just two days prior, where he also found Netanyahu to be using the IDF and public resources for election propaganda, imposing personal expenses on him. Solberg has ruled on six petitions concerning Netanyahu's use of public resources for political advertising, with five being accepted in full or in part.