Legislation10/13/2026

Central Elections Committee: Netanyahu Used the State Emblem Unlawfully

The chairman of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, Noam Sohlberg, determined that a video by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently used the state emblem in violation of the law. He issued an interim order to remove the emblems from the image or, alternatively, to remove the image itself from the post.

Key facts

•Body: Israel’s Central Elections Committee
•Chairman of the Central Elections Committee: Noam Sohlberg
•Subject of the post: Benjamin Netanyahu
•Basis: Section 2A of the Elections (Modes of Propaganda) Law, 5719–1959
•Relief: an interim order until a further decision
•The proceeding number and date of the decision are not stated in the source

What Happened

Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video in which he praised Davidi Ben Zion, who withdrew from the “Amcha Yisrael” slate headed by Ofer Winter. According to the Central Elections Committee’s announcement, the caption accompanying the post was apparently election propaganda in nature, and the design used state emblems.

Why the Central Elections Committee Identified a Violation

The committee relied on Section 2A of the Elections (Modes of Propaganda) Law, 5719–1959. This section prohibits the use of tangible and intangible public assets in connection with election propaganda. As the chairman of the Central Elections Committee noted, the state emblem has repeatedly been recognized as an intangible public asset.

What the Committee Chairman Decided

At this stage, the chairman of the Central Elections Committee determined that a violation of Section 2A had been sufficiently established. He issued an interim order, which will remain in effect until a further decision: to remove the state emblems from the image or, alternatively, to remove the image from the post. Proceedings on the petition are continuing, and therefore the source does not state the final outcome of the proceeding.

What this means for you

The state emblem may not be used in election propaganda as though it were an ordinary design element of a campaign: the Central Elections Committee regards it as an intangible public asset. When such use is discovered, the committee may require the removal of the emblem or the relevant image even before a final decision on the petition.

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