Israel's Election Chief Orders Mayor's WhatsApp Groups Shut Down
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
Israel's Central Elections Committee Chairman, Justice Noam Sohlberg, ordered Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama Hacohen's election-related WhatsApp groups closed and fined him 18,000 NIS. The ruling followed an appeal by opposition leader Liyad Ilani, who accused the mayor of exploiting security information for political propaganda. Sohlberg found the mayor had sinned from birth by using his position for campaign purposes and ordered him to pay Ilani's legal costs, totaling 18,000 NIS.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Justice Noam Sohlberg ordered Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama Hacohen's WhatsApp groups closed.
- The mayor was fined 18,000 NIS for exploiting security information for election propaganda.
- The ruling followed an appeal by opposition leader Liyad Ilani.
- Sohlberg cited the mayor's repeated violations and disregard for judicial orders.
- The mayor must personally pay Ilani 18,000 NIS in legal costs and reimbursements.
The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Noam Sohlberg, has ordered the immediate closure of WhatsApp groups and channels operated by Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama Hacohen. The mayor was also fined 18,000 NIS.
Justice Sohlberg ruled that the mayor had "sinned from birth" by exploiting unique security information accessible to him due to his position to gather members for his private groups for election propaganda. He stated that the mayor used this information, initially presented as "Emergency Updates Ramat Gan" during missile attacks from Iran, to gain an advantage over the public and for political campaigning.
The ruling came after an appeal filed by Ramat Gan's Opposition Chairman, Liyad Ilani, against Mayor Shama Hacohen. Ilani argued that the mayor had improperly used public resources and exploited residents' fear during the Iranian missile barrage for political gain. Initially, the regional election committee had ruled the use of public resources was forbidden but allowed the mayor to keep the groups open with an opt-out option, fining Ilani 6,000 NIS in expenses.
However, Justice Sohlberg fully accepted Ilani's appeal, rejecting the mayor's claims that the security information came from personal contacts. He emphasized that the mayor's repeated violations and disregard for previous judicial orders warranted a stricter penalty, stating, "One who has committed a sin should not benefit." The judge ordered all groups to be permanently closed, prohibited the mayor from highlighting his personal involvement even in future official emergency groups, and reversed the cost ruling. Mayor Shama Hacohen was ordered to personally pay Ilani a total of 18,000 NIS, covering legal expenses and the previous fine.
Ilani praised the decision, calling it an end to the mayor's "limitless cynicism" and a victory for clean, responsible emergency information for residents, free from political campaigns. Attorneys Matan Gutman and Nir Friedman, who represented Ilani, stated that the ruling serves as a clear warning to the mayor and other local authorities about respecting the law and not exploiting wartime situations or public resources for private propaganda.
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