IDF seeks clarification on electioneering ahead of Netanyahu speech to new officers

The IDF sought clarification from the attorney general over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech to graduating officers amid concerns of electioneering. The Central Elections Committee has repeatedly found Netanyahu and Likud violated campaign rules, including using IDF video clips without payment. The Yashar party of rival Gadi Eisenkot was also found to have violated rules.

The Israel Defense Forces sought clarification from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech to graduating officers, amid public concerns that he may use the opportunity for electioneering in violation of campaign rules. Hebrew media reports said the military reached out for instructions on how to act. Netanyahu was scheduled to address the graduation ceremony at the Bahad 1 base on Wednesday. The prime minister canceled all of his campaign events planned for the south of the country for the day, but did not cancel his talk at the officers' ceremony. The Central Elections Committee has repeatedly found parties violated campaigning rules. On Tuesday, committee chair Noam Sohlberg ruled that Netanyahu repeatedly used video clips created by the IDF spokesperson's office in his campaign without paying for them, ordering Likud to pay NIS 1,500 for the clips and NIS 6,000 to the state. Earlier this month, Sohlberg ruled that Netanyahu violated electioneering laws on five other occasions. The Yashar party of his chief rival Gadi Eisenkot was also found to have violated rules by sending fake military draft notices and by posting a digitally manipulated video depicting Netanyahu speaking with late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.