Israel sets hearing on Likud petition over Fly&Vote — Jerusalem Post
In Israel, Central Elections Committee chairman and Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg scheduled a hearing for October 6 on the Likud party’s petition concerning the Fly&Vote initiative. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post. The AID Coalition initiative helps Israelis who are abroad organize travel to the country to vote.
The hearing will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Knesset. By 4:00 p.m. on October 4, the parties must submit additional factual and legal information about the initiative’s activities, the services it provides, and the payments charged within its framework.
Clarification regarding services
Sohlberg ordered AID Coalition to explain discrepancies between its response to the petition and information on the Fly&Vote website. The organization must clarify the nature of each service listed on the website, how it is provided, and whether it is currently offered. AID Coalition must also explain what is meant by defining a donation as an advance payment.
Fly&Vote says it helps verify eligibility to vote, resolve passport and document issues, and find or book a flight to Israel. The initiative’s website also advertises organized flights from major cities. The project aims to help Israelis abroad participate in the October 27 election.
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AID Coalition describes itself as a U.S.-based nonpartisan organization unaffiliated with political forces. It says participants pay their own travel expenses, while the organization does not ask whom they plan to vote for and does not tie assistance to political views.
Likud’s arguments
Likud filed the petition in early September, naming AID Coalition, the Israeli nonprofit organization Israeli Base, three individuals, the Democrats party, the attorney general, and the State Comptroller’s Office among the respondents. The party claims there may be links between AID Coalition, Israeli Base, and political activity aimed at weakening support for Likud.
The petition states that services or benefits offered through these initiatives may constitute prohibited election benefits or voter bribery and may fall under laws on election campaigning and party financing. It separately mentions the Fly&AID initiative, which offers participants a $250 grant for each day of volunteer activity in Israel, for a maximum of three days.
Sohlberg also instructed Likud and AID Coalition to state their positions on the authority of the election committee chairman to issue an injunction against an individual or legal entity outside Israel for actions carried out abroad. The attorney general must submit the same position. AID Coalition rejected Likud’s claims.
