IAI Workers Allegedly Directed to Vote for Preselected Candidates at Nearby Likud Polling Station

On August 17, 2026, employees of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) were reportedly escorted directly from their offices in Yehud to a Likud party polling station located very close to their workplace. According to footage obtained by Channel 12 News, the workers received envelopes containing pre-filled candidate lists, which they simply deposited into the ballot box without marking them individually. A witness described the employees as moving "like a herd, one after the other," with each voting process taking only about one to one and a half minutes, indicating no personal selection was made.

The orchestrated voting effort was allegedly led by Yair Katz, chairman of the IAI workers' committee and son of Minister Haim Katz. The polling station was situated at Altalef 3, adjacent to the IAI headquarters at Altalef 2 in Yehud. This proximity facilitated the direct transfer of employees from the company to the polling site. The incident raises questions about the integrity of the voting process within the company and the influence exerted by union leadership.

The report highlights concerns over the manipulation of employee votes in favor of predetermined candidates, undermining democratic procedures. The witness testimony and video evidence suggest a coordinated effort to control the outcome of the internal voting, with workers not exercising independent choice. Further investigations or responses from the involved parties have not yet been disclosed.