Against Golan and Abbas: Katz's political campaign through the Defense Ministry

The Democrats party sent a warning letter to Defense Minister Israel Katz, accusing him of using the Defense Ministry's spokesperson for political purposes, in violation of the law. The complaint stems from a message Katz posted in the WhatsApp group "Messages from the Defense Minister's Office," in which he attacked Yair Golan and Mansour Abbas. The Democrats threatened to appeal to the Central Elections Committee if he does not desist. Katz defended the publication, saying it was distributed by his office, not the ministry's spokesperson.

The Democrats party sent a warning letter today (Sunday) to Defense Minister Israel Katz, accusing him of making political use of the Defense Ministry's spokesperson in violation of the law. The complaint stems from a message Katz posted in the WhatsApp group "Messages from the Defense Minister's Office," an official group used to convey security updates to the press. In the message, Katz attacked Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats, for his statement that Mansour Abbas could be in the next government, and claimed that Golan admitted that Eisenkot has no government without the Arab parties. The Democrats denied the claims, argued that Golan did not say the sentence attributed to him, and threatened to appeal to the Central Elections Committee if Katz does not desist. Katz's office defended the publication, saying it was distributed by the Defense Minister's office, not the ministry's spokesperson, and that the minister's spokesperson also posts political content in the group.