Likud demands prohibition on freely hosting citizens flying to Israel for election - report

The Likud party has petitioned Israel's Election Committee to prohibit citizens from freely hosting or providing logistical support to Israelis flying into the country to vote, citing prevention of bribery and undue influence. The request follows reports that Transportation Ministry officials discussed limiting flights for incoming voters, sparking concerns from opposition MKs and civil rights groups.

The Likud party has formally requested that Israel's Election Committee prohibit citizens from freely hosting or providing logistical support to Israelis flying into the country to vote, according to a Channel 12 report on Tuesday. In a letter from Likud legal adviser attorney Ilan Bombach to the Election Committee, Bombach stated that the goal is to prevent bribery and other forms of undue influence on voters. This follows earlier reports from Haaretz that Transportation Ministry officials, led by Minister Miri Regev, were unofficially discussing limiting flights to prevent Israelis from reaching the country in time to vote, expressing worry that many incoming voters would support opposition parties. MK Efrat Rayten (The Democrats) warned that any restrictions hindering citizens' ability to return to vote would be challenged in the High Court of Justice. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel also sent an urgent appeal to Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, acting director-general attorney Din Livne, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, demanding immediate action to halt any initiative impairing citizens' ability to reach Israel and vote, and asking that citizens be permitted to enter close to the election date.