Israel's Central Elections Committee chair bans payments for not voting — Jerusalem Post

Israel's Central Elections Committee chair, Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg, issued a temporary injunction against the Shkel Ha-Tahor organization, linked to the ultra-Orthodox Satmar community. The organization was prohibited from providing, offering or promising voters money to influence their decision not to participate in Knesset elections.

As The Jerusalem Post reports, the injunction was issued following a petition by the Movement for Quality Government. The petition alleges that the organization began providing payments of 200 Israeli shekels to ultra-Orthodox voters who stated that they would not vote in the elections for the 26th Knesset.

12,000 new program participants

According to the petition, around 12,000 newly registered individuals recently joined the Shkel Ha-Tahor program, signing a commitment not to participate in the elections. The expected payment for those eligible is approximately 200 shekels.

At the same time, there is no data on the number of people who may already have received the money. The organization also operates outside the election period as a Satmar-linked support system for communities and institutions that do not receive state funding. The petition concerns not this assistance itself, but allegations of money in exchange for a voter's statement that they will refrain from voting.

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Temporary injunction

Sohlberg noted that the evidence available at this stage raises “serious concern about a violation of the law that touches on the very foundation of election legislation.” The injunction will remain in effect until a further decision, while consideration of the petition continues.

Article 122 of Israel's Knesset Elections Law prohibits giving or offering a bribe to induce a voter to vote or refrain from voting. The law also applies to a voter who agrees to accept such compensation. These offenses are punishable by up to five years in prison.

The temporary injunction does not mean that a violation of the law by Shkel Ha-Tahor has already been established. At the time it was issued, the organization had not yet responded to the petition. Violating the injunction may result in proceedings for failure to comply with a court decision.