Tali Gottlieb Warns Judicial Moves Aim to Discourage Voters Ahead of Elections
MK Tali Gottlieb criticized recent judicial interventions in Israel's election process, calling them "madness" and accusing the judiciary of attempting to discourage voter turnout. Her remarks came in response to Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Noam Solberg's decision to ban election observers from extracting data at polling stations and prohibit the use of voter mobilization apps such as "Elector." Gottlieb emphasized that despite the ban, individuals can still encourage voting independently, circumventing the restrictions on organized efforts.
The "Elector" app, widely used by various political parties including Likud, ultra-Orthodox factions, and Yisrael Beiteinu, has been at the center of controversy. Solberg's ruling represents a significant policy shift, overturning longstanding practices previously upheld by election committees and the Supreme Court. Critics view this sudden change as part of a coordinated effort between judicial and media entities to promote a narrative that the right-wing might steal the elections and to demoralize right-wing voters.
Gottlieb accused the judiciary of targeting the current government and its supporters, stating that after failing to topple the government through other means, the system now seeks to suppress voter participation. She referenced former Supreme Court Justice Dorit Beinisch's recent comment labeling the right-wing as "the racist majority in the country," rejecting that characterization and affirming the right-wing as the true representatives of the Israeli people.
Calling on the public to fulfill their civic duty, Gottlieb urged all voters to go to the polls, acknowledging the challenges but emphasizing the importance of participation. When asked about the legality of efforts to fly left-wing voters from abroad, she refrained from labeling it outright election bribery, describing the matter as complex.
This judicial intervention marks a dramatic departure from decades of election procedures in Israel and has sparked significant political debate. Channel 14's political editor Mati Tuchfeld criticized the move, noting that Solberg adopted left-wing petitions that had been repeatedly rejected in the past by election authorities and the Supreme Court.
