Contrary to the absolute prohibition in law: Election Committee issues interim order to remove Netanyahu video
The chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, issued an interim order to remove a video of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu featuring children, due to concerns of violating the prohibition on involving children in election propaganda. The order was issued following a petition filed by attorney Yaron Meiri. Sohlberg ordered the video removed from all accounts, but allowed it to be re-uploaded if segments showing children in personal contact with Netanyahu are removed.
The chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, issued an interim order on Thursday to remove a video of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu featuring children. The order came in response to a petition filed by attorney and accountant Yaron Meiri, who argued that the video violates the prohibition on involving children in election propaganda. Two days ago, Netanyahu published on his social media accounts a video of a visit to the Malha Mall in Jerusalem, in which he is seen meeting visitors, including many children. Section 2C of the Elections Law (Propaganda Methods) prohibits the use of children under the age of 15 in election propaganda, unless they are engaged in routine activity. Sohlberg ordered the video removed from all accounts, but noted that it could be re-uploaded if the segments showing children in personal contact with Netanyahu are removed. The hearing on the petition continues until a final decision, after receiving responses from the Prime Minister and Likud. Last month, Sohlberg ordered Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to remove a video created using artificial intelligence that depicted Gadi Eisenkot alongside Abu Mazen and Mansour Abbas, due to concerns of deception.