In Israel, Likud challenges assistance for voters abroad
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has appealed to the Central Election Commission, demanding an end to initiatives that help Israelis living abroad travel to the country to vote in the October 27 election. Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
Likud's complaint
Attorney Ilan Bombach, representing the right-wing Likud party, filed a complaint with the chair of the Central Election Commission. In the appeal, he described such practices as “electoral bribery” and said they violate party financing legislation.
The complaint is directed, in particular, against the U.S. organization AID Coalition, which runs the Fly&Vote initiative, as well as against the opposition Democrats party. Likud argues that even when passengers pay for their own tickets, the Fly&Vote scheme may provide improper benefits, including reduced fares arranged with airlines for group bookings.
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Assistance for voters
Israeli law does not allow citizens living outside the country to vote abroad. Exceptions are provided for diplomats and representatives of certain organizations sent overseas. According to an estimate by the Central Bureau of Statistics, around 600,000 Israelis live outside Israel.
For several weeks, government opponents have been encouraging voters to return to vote, hoping to strengthen the camp of Netanyahu's opponents. The assistance offered includes discounted air tickets, support with administrative procedures for participating in the election, and transportation from the airport.
AID Coalition describes itself as a non-political organization and says its goal is to strengthen and preserve the state's democratic foundations. The organization's representative, Michal Dagon, previously told Haaretz that the initiative is intended to help between 50,000 and 70,000 voters travel to vote. According to the organizers, more than 30,000 people have already registered. Polls indicate that the election is expected to be competitive between Netanyahu's bloc and that of his main rival, centrist Gadi Eisenkot.
