Netanyahu Filmed Campaign Video in Bat Yam City Hall, Violating Election Law
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu filmed a campaign video in Bat Yam City Hall, violating election law. This follows previous orders from Election Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg for Netanyahu to remove campaign videos using public resources and IDF assets. The latest video urged supporters to vote and warned of potential attacks, contradicting earlier statements about Israel's strength. The opposition and security establishment have raised concerns.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu filmed a campaign video in Bat Yam City Hall, violating election law.
- Election Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg previously ordered Netanyahu to remove similar campaign videos.
- Netanyahu urged supporters to vote and warned of potential enemy attacks in the Bat Yam video.
- The video's claims about enemy attacks contradicted Netanyahu's earlier statements on Israel's strength.
- The opposition and security establishment have criticized the Prime Minister's actions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a campaign video on Tuesday that was filmed inside Bat Yam City Hall, an act that violates election law prohibiting politicians from using public property for political propaganda. In the video, Netanyahu urged Likud supporters to vote, stating, "I am here in Bat Yam, the Arab parties have brought their voters to an all-time high, and so has the left. This is a real alarm."
This is not the first time Netanyahu has allegedly breached this prohibition. Earlier this month, the Chairman of the Election Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, ordered the Prime Minister to remove campaign videos from social media that utilized the IDF and public resources. Sohlberg upheld five out of six petitions against Netanyahu for his publications, deeming them election propaganda.
In one instance, Sohlberg ruled that a video showing Netanyahu visiting an IDF post in southern Lebanon primarily showcased the government's and its leader's achievements. Other segments of that video, focusing on "boosting morale and honoring soldiers," were ordered to be edited out. In another case, Sohlberg directed Netanyahu to remove a video filmed at the Tel Nof Air Force base from his private accounts, identifying it as containing "elements of election propaganda." However, Sohlberg allowed the video, in which Netanyahu warned of an attack on Israel ahead of elections, to remain on the Prime Minister's official accounts, citing its inclusion of a "public message to other countries."
The Tel Nof video drew public criticism. Netanyahu claimed in it that "there are signs that our enemies will try to attack us before the elections" and warned, "Don't mess with us. Our long arm will reach you anywhere, anytime." He also stated that the IDF had killed over 100 terrorists in Gaza in recent weeks. This contradicted his assertion three weeks prior, when Netanyahu claimed, "Israel is stronger than ever, and our enemies are weaker than ever. They are not attacking us. Iran is refraining from it, and it knows why."
Opposition parties criticized the video, calling it a political move ahead of the elections. The security establishment also reportedly expressed surprise regarding the statement.
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