Election Committee Orders Ben-Gvir to Remove Videos, But They Remain Online

The Central Elections Committee has ordered Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir to remove at least four campaign videos filmed in prison facilities, but some of these clips remain accessible online. Chairman Noam Solberg ruled that Ben-Gvir and his party must pay NIS 9,000 in expenses for using public resources for election propaganda. This ruling follows a March decision concerning two videos Ben-Gvir posted in February, filmed on a police boat and at Ofer Prison.

In a separate case, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ordered to pay approximately NIS 29,000 in expenses for campaign speeches published on his accounts, including one filmed at an IDF post in Lebanon. Solberg accepted five out of six petitions against Netanyahu, determining that his speeches constituted election propaganda using public assets unavailable to other candidates.

Ben-Gvir has been repeatedly instructed to remove campaign material filmed in prisons since March. In June, Solberg ordered the removal of a video documenting the situation of "pro-Gaza" international police activists filmed at a prison facility in Ashdod Port, fining the Ministry of National Security and the Prisons Service NIS 15,000, while Ben-Gvir himself was fined NIS 8,000. On October 1, Solberg ordered the removal of a video filmed in the cell of prisoner Hassan Salameh, with Ben-Gvir personally responsible for half of the approximately NIS 20,000 in expenses.

Despite directives from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to the Prisons Commissioner to prevent the minister from filming meetings with prisoners for propaganda purposes, Ben-Gvir posted footage of such a meeting on October 11, filmed about a month prior. Solberg issued an interim order the same day to remove the video, stating that blurring the faces of prisoners and guards did not negate the violations.

Solberg's rulings emphasize that public assets are not a stage for election propaganda and that candidates, including ministers, are prohibited from using public funds or assets for campaign purposes. He noted that Ben-Gvir's access to prisons stems from his role as minister, an advantage forbidden by election law to be exploited for campaigning, unlike other candidates or ministers who lack such access.