Likud Petitions Election Committee Against Eisenkot Over Fake IDF Draft Notices

The Likud party has filed an urgent petition with the Central Elections Committee against Gadi Eisenkot and his party, "Yashar!", alleging that their election campaign used materials designed to resemble official IDF draft notices.

According to the petition, filed by Likud lawyers Ilan Bombach, Shai Levi, and Shaked Cohen, the campaign distributed envelopes that looked like military call-up orders but contained political propaganda. Likud claims this constitutes misleading soldiers and the prohibited use of IDF symbols, creating a false impression of a connection between the party and the military. The petition notes that recipients, including young people and their families, were initially alarmed, some believing they had received emergency draft orders (Tzav 8).

Likud further questions how "Yashar!" obtained the personal details and addresses of soldiers, both active and reserve, for this campaign, requesting an investigation into the source of this information. While no evidence has yet been presented that the data came from military databases, Likud argues that the campaign's severity is amplified by its apparent targeting of soldiers.

The "Yashar!" party explained that the campaign aimed to illustrate the consequences of the current government remaining in power, with a message stating, "Four years of mandatory service. Sounds like a bad movie? It will happen if the evasion government is elected again." A disclaimer in small print at the bottom read, "It's not real yet, but there is hope on the other side."

Likud is seeking an immediate injunction from the committee chairman, Justice Noam Sohlberg, to halt the distribution of these materials pending a decision on the petition. The controversy, which has already sparked criticism on social media, now moves to the Elections Committee for review.