Israeli Election Broadcast Rules Interrupt Candidate's Appeal
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Yoaz Hendel, running for the Knesset, discussed his party's poll numbers and Benny Gantz's withdrawal from the election on Israeli television. During the interview, Hendel attempted to appeal directly to Gantz's former voters. However, the program's host, Oded Ben Ami, interrupted him, citing election broadcast regulations that prohibit direct calls for votes in the final week before elections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yoaz Hendel's party faced conflicting poll results ahead of the Israeli Knesset elections.
- Hendel appealed to Benny Gantz's former voters during a live television interview.
- The host interrupted Hendel due to Israeli election broadcast regulations.
- Direct calls to vote for a party are prohibited in the 60 days before an election.
- The elections for the 26th Knesset are scheduled for October 27.
With Israel's 26th Knesset elections just a week away on October 27, political parties are intensifying their efforts to gain voter support. Yoaz Hendel, former Minister of Communications and head of the "Reservists and Economists" list alongside Professor Yaron Zelekha, appeared on Channel 12's "6 with Oded Ben Ami." Hendel addressed his party's standing in recent polls, noting discrepancies between a Channel 12 poll showing 2.1% support, below the electoral threshold, and a Channel 13 poll that placed his list at four seats.
Hendel expressed confidence in his party's prospects, suggesting the Channel 12 poll was an anomaly and that other surveys show them surpassing the threshold. He also commented on Benny Gantz's decision to withdraw his Blue and White party from the election race, acknowledging Gantz's service to the country despite their political differences.
The interview took a notable turn when Hendel directly appealed to Gantz's former voters, urging them to join his "third bloc" which he stated would not partner with Prime Minister Netanyahu or ultra-Orthodox parties. However, host Oded Ben Ami interrupted Hendel, citing broadcast regulations that prohibit electioneering in the final week before the vote. Ben Ami explained that while politicians can discuss issues, direct calls to vote for a specific party are forbidden under Israeli election law, which restricts campaign broadcasts.
The law prohibits election propaganda for 60 days prior to elections, with exceptions only for regulated campaign advertisements. Hendel's appeal was deemed a potential violation, prompting Ben Ami to halt the segment to adhere to the legal limitations on election coverage.
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