High-profile case8/27/2026

Attorney General Demanded That Commemoration Events Be Postponed Due to Concern Over Election Propaganda

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara demanded that the state commemoration events in memory of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef be held after the elections. The reason is concern that state resources could be used for election propaganda; the Shas party believes the postponement violates the law.

Key facts

•Anniversary of the rabbi’s death: October 14
•Conference organizer: Ministry of Religious Services
•Proposed postponement: by one to two weeks, until after the elections
•In practice, the conference was moved forward by one week
•The source does not mention legal proceedings or a court decision

Reason for the Dispute

The anniversary of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s death falls this year on October 14—shortly before the elections. Shas is using the rabbi’s photograph and image in its election campaign, and therefore, in the Attorney General’s view, the state commemoration events could become a political platform.

What the Law Stipulates

The special law commemorating the legacy of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, which the Knesset approved last year, requires state institutions to hold a memorial day for him. The events are supposed to take place on the anniversary of the rabbi’s death or during the following week. The law also requires the Ministry of Religious Services to hold, on the anniversary of his death or on a nearby date, an academic-educational conference dedicated to the rabbi.

The Attorney General’s Position

Baharav-Miara instructed government bodies to postpone the events until after the elections. According to a source, the director general of the Ministry of Religious Services was informed that the wording regarding a “nearby date” allows the conference to be postponed by one or two weeks. In practice, however, the conference was not postponed but moved forward by one week and spread over three days.

Shas’s Objection

Shas argues that holding the commemoration events is a statutory obligation and that they cannot be postponed. The party called the demand interference in an event established by law and announced that it intends to act through legal means to overturn the decision. The parties have not yet reached an agreement; a source said the dispute could move to the legal arena but did not state that a lawsuit had been filed or that a court decision had been issued.

What this means for you

State commemoration events taking place during an election period may be postponed if the authorities identify a concern that public resources could be used for propaganda purposes. However, the possibility of postponing them depends on the law’s precise wording and the time frame it permits. In this case, the source does not present a final legal outcome.

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