"Shadow Association": The Legal Threat That Could Crush the Likud Campaign | First Publication

The Democrats party sent a legal letter to the Im Tirtzu movement and Likud, demanding clarifications regarding the association's activities during the election period. The Democrats claim that Im Tirtzu is conducting activities that may be considered election activity under the Party Funding Law, and even raise the possibility that it should be viewed as a body linked to the Likud faction. The letter, signed by the Democrats' legal advisor, Attorney Omri Shegev, details claims of historical ties, coordinated campaigns, and collection of voter databases.

The Democrats party sent a preliminary legal letter to the Im Tirtzu movement and the Likud party, demanding clarifications regarding the association's activities during the election period. The letter, signed by the Democrats' legal advisor, Attorney Omri Shegev, alleges that Im Tirtzu has been conducting activities in recent months that may be considered "election activity" under the Party Funding Law, and even raises the possibility that it should be viewed as a "body linked to the faction" of Likud. The Democrats base their claim on historical ties between Im Tirtzu and Likud, including similar activity during the 2015 election campaign, and on past publications regarding the examination of the association's activities by the State Comptroller. It is further alleged that the association collects databases of voters with identified political leanings, including personal details such as name, email address, phone number, city of residence, and date of birth, and in some forms even an ID number. The Democrats raise two alternative claims: first, that Im Tirtzu is required to register with the State Comptroller as a "body active in elections"; second, more severe, that it should be viewed as a "body linked to the faction" of Likud. If this claim is accepted, the association's expenses may be considered expenses of Likud, and donations it received may be considered donations to the party. The Democrats warn that they intend to turn to the Central Elections Committee and the State Comptroller if a satisfactory response is not received.