Israel Election Chief Orders Finance Minister to Remove Children's Photos from Campaign Ads
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
Israel's Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg ordered Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to remove children's photos from his campaign ads, citing a violation of election law. The images were used to promote a new settlement and featured minors in a manner deemed non-regular activity. Smotrich was also fined 10,000 shekels, and Sohlberg stressed the need for legislative changes if the law is to be altered.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Election Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg ordered Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to remove children's photos from campaign ads.
- The photos were used to promote a new settlement and violated Israeli election law.
- Israeli law prohibits involving children under 15 in campaign ads, except for documenting regular activities.
- Sohlberg ruled that attending a settlement inauguration was not a regular activity for children.
- Smotrich and his party were fined 10,000 shekels for the violation.
- Sohlberg urged lawmakers to amend the law if they disagree with its application.
The Chairman of Israel's Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, has ordered Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to remove images of children from campaign advertisements posted on his social media accounts. Sohlberg ruled that the use of these photos violates election law, specifically concerning the promotion of a new settlement. The advertisements featured children alongside adults, including one image of a family with parents holding infants and others showing groups of people, mostly children.
Israeli election law prohibits the involvement of children under 15 in political campaigning, with an exception for documenting their regular activities. Sohlberg determined that attending a settlement inauguration ceremony and taking photos with an elected official does not constitute a regular activity for children. Therefore, publishing these images in campaign materials was deemed a violation of the law.
Smotrich has been instructed to remove the photos from his personal accounts. This is not the first time Smotrich has faced a complaint for involving children in election propaganda. Consequently, Sohlberg also ordered Smotrich and his party to pay 10,000 shekels in expenses to the petitioner.
Sohlberg emphasized that the law is clear and remains binding unless amended. He urged those wishing to change the law, particularly Knesset members, to pursue legislative amendments rather than challenging judicial decisions based on existing statutes.
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