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Election Committee Head Orders Smotrich to Remove Children from Campaign Ads
The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Noam Solberg, ordered Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his party on Thursday to remove social media posts featuring children under the age of 15. The ruling came in response to a petition filed by the Voters in Israel organization, which argued that the posts violated election law.
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What happened
- 01Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Solberg ordered Minister Bezalel Smotrich to remove social media posts featuring children under 15.
- 02The ruling followed a petition by the Voters in Israel organization regarding a September 23, 2026, post about a new community in the Benjamin region.
- 03Israeli election law prohibits the involvement of children under the age of 15 in election propaganda unless they are engaged in routine activities.
- 04Justice Solberg rejected Smotrich's defense, ruling that a community inauguration ceremony and photos with an elected official are not routine activities.
- 05Smotrich and his party were ordered to pay 10,000 shekels in legal costs to the petitioner.
- 06Solberg suggested that politicians could blur the faces of young children or feature individuals over 15 to comply with the law.
- 07The judge emphasized that the law must be followed as written and advised those who disagree with it to seek amendments in the Knesset.
The dispute centered on a September 23, 2026, post by Smotrich celebrating the establishment of a new community, Metzukei Eretz, in the Benjamin region. The post included three photos of Smotrich with residents, including children and infants with their parents, alongside criticism of his political rivals. Under the 1959 Election Law, involving children under 15 in election propaganda is prohibited unless they are depicted in routine activities.
Smotrich and his party argued that the children were engaged in routine activities and questioned the proof of their ages. Justice Solberg rejected these claims, ruling that a celebratory event like the inauguration of a new community and taking photos with an elected official does not constitute a routine activity for children. He noted that this was not the first time Smotrich faced such a complaint.
Solberg ordered the removal of the photos and fined Smotrich and his party 10,000 shekels for legal costs. He suggested that elected officials who wish to use such images should blur the faces of younger children or use photos with individuals over 15, adding that those who disagree with the law should seek to amend it in the Knesset.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Maariv. Read Maariv’s originalThe coverage
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