Likud Files Complaint Against MK Naama Lazimi Over Altered Campaign Billboard Image

The Likud party has filed a petition with the Central Elections Committee against MK Naama Lazimi of the Democratic Camp faction for publishing an edited version of a Likud campaign billboard on social media without disclosing the alterations. The original billboard, displayed at a major intersection in Tel Aviv during the Likud's election campaign, featured images of Mujtaba Khamenei, Zohren Mamdani, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Naeem Qassem with the message "They want Netanyahu to lose" and "Don't let them win." On August 16, Lazimi posted a digitally altered image replacing the original figures with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, alongside Jonathan Urich, Shrolik Einhorn, and Eli Feldstein, and changed the text on the billboard.

Likud's petition argues that while the billboard's structure, background, text placement, and Likud logo remained unchanged to make the image appear authentic, the content was reversed to convey an opposite message. The party claims Lazimi did not include any clear disclosure that the image was digitally manipulated. After Likud requested the removal of the post on August 17, Lazimi reportedly deleted it but then reposted the edited image shortly after as part of a media share, again without proper disclosure.

Likud bases its petition on election law requirements mandating clear disclosure when campaign materials are materially altered. The party is seeking a court order to remove the edited image from Lazimi's social media accounts, prevent its further dissemination, and require her to cover legal costs. The petition was submitted to Judge Noam Solberg, chair of the Central Elections Committee for the 26th Knesset.