Will have to give up the children: Solberg's decision against Smotrich

Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Noam Solberg accepted a petition by the "Choose Israel" association and ordered Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his party to remove images of children from election propaganda. Solberg rejected Smotrich's claim that this was routine activity, determined that the children appeared to be under 15, and ordered the party to pay 10,000 shekels in costs.

Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Noam Solberg accepted a petition filed by the "Choose Israel" association against Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his party. Solberg ordered the removal of images featuring children from election propaganda, rejecting Smotrich's claim that this was an exception of "routine activity." In his ruling, Solberg determined that the images, taken at the inauguration of a new settlement, do not document routine activity of children, and that the children clearly appear to be under 15. The judge emphasized that the restriction on involving children in propaganda is clear and explicit, and that Smotrich, as a Knesset member, should approach the legislator if he wishes to change the law, rather than complain about the ruling. Smotrich and his party were ordered to pay 10,000 shekels in costs.