Watchdog Claims "Stand Together" Used NGO Resources for Election Campaigns
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
The watchdog organization Ad Kan claims to have recordings showing the "Stand Together" movement used NGO resources for the 2023 municipal elections. Activists allegedly worked to hide the connection between the NGO and political campaigns. Stand Together denied the allegations, calling the report a politically motivated attack and asserting a complete separation between the movement and election lists, with finances cleared by the State Comptroller.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ad Kan claims "Stand Together" used NGO resources for 2023 municipal elections, citing recorded evidence.
- The watchdog alleges activists intentionally obscured the link between the NGO and political campaigns.
- Recordings reportedly feature campaign manager Omri Goren explaining branding choices to distance politics.
- Ad Kan CEO called for investigations into the alleged misuse of NGO resources.
- Stand Together denied the claims, calling it a politically motivated attack and asserting financial regularity.
The watchdog organization Ad Kan has released recordings it claims show the "Stand Together" movement allegedly used resources from its NGO to promote candidates and lists in the 2023 municipal elections. According to Ad Kan, activists were aware of the requirement to separate NGO activities from political campaigning but worked to obscure the connection.
The investigation, based on recordings obtained by an undercover agent who infiltrated the movement for a year, suggests the NGO served as an organizational base and resource pool for local electoral activities intended to build national political power. Ad Kan alleges that the recordings reveal a broader picture than isolated incidents.
One recording reportedly features Omri Goren, Stand Together's campaign manager, explaining the use of the "Purple City" brand in Tel Aviv and Haifa instead of the movement's known name. This, Ad Kan claims, was to distance the political campaign from the NGO's activities. Itamar Abenri, a prominent Stand Together figure and Purple City candidate for the Tel Aviv City Council, was also reportedly recorded instructing activists on what could and could not be said about the connection between the movement and his candidacy.
Further recordings allegedly feature activist Uri Weltman discussing the use of the NGO's databases for political campaigns, and Nadav Shoft, another activist, referring to the use of the NGO's databases in the local election effort. The report also mentions Sali Abd, who was elected to the Haifa City Council, with an activist reportedly discussing the alleged use of NGO databases in her local campaign.
Ad Kan CEO Avichai Shorshan called for the Registrar of Associations to investigate the movement's activities and for the Israel Police to open a criminal investigation. He stated that the use of NGO resources to promote political candidates has significant public and legal implications that must be examined.
Stand Together responded by calling the report a "transparent and cowardly attempt" by Channel 14 to harm the Jewish-Arab partnership, expressing fear of Jews and Arabs organizing together for peace, equality, and social justice. The movement denied the allegations, asserting a "complete separation" between Stand Together and the lists that ran in the 2023 municipal elections, and stated that no NGO resources were used for campaigning. They also claimed the State Comptroller reviewed the financial conduct of the lists and found it to be in order.