Court ruling10/26/2026

Elections Committee Orders Removal of Campaign Videos Filmed Using State Resources

Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg ruled that Benjamin Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir used state resources unavailable to other candidates for election campaigning. He ordered several posts removed and required the politicians and state authorities to pay legal costs.

Key facts

•Case: Tavakh 16/26
•Body: Central Elections Committee
•Key date: March 17, 2026
•Ben-Gvir and the faction: costs of 9,000 shekels
•Netanyahu: personal costs of 29,000 shekels
•Elections (Modes of Propaganda) Law, Section 2A

Ben-Gvir’s Videos

On March 17, 2026, in Tavakh 16/26, Sohlberg ordered Ben-Gvir to remove two videos from February that were filmed on a police boat and at Ofer Prison. Ben-Gvir and his faction were ordered to pay costs of 9,000 shekels. Additional decisions were later issued ordering the removal of videos filmed at an Israel Prison Service facility at Ashdod Port and in prisoner Hassan Salameh’s cell, and on October 11, an interim order was issued for the removal of additional footage from a prison.

Costs for the Use of Prisons

In a case concerning a video featuring detained participants in the international flotilla, the total costs amounted to 23,000 shekels: 15,000 were imposed jointly on the Ministry of National Security and the Israel Prison Service, and 8,000 on Ben-Gvir. Costs of approximately 20,000 shekels were awarded over the video from Hassan Salameh’s cell, half of which the minister was required to pay personally. Sohlberg noted that Ben-Gvir’s access to prisons, prisoners and prison guards stems from his position and is not available to other candidates.

Decisions Concerning Netanyahu

On October 4, 2026, Sohlberg granted, in full or in part, five of six petitions against Netanyahu and ordered him personally to pay costs of 29,000 shekels. Posts featuring speeches that made use of state facilities and government materials were recognized as campaign propaganda, including a visit to an Israel Defense Forces outpost in Lebanon and footage taken by the Government Press Office. On October 6, Sohlberg also ordered the removal from Netanyahu’s personal accounts of a video from the Tel Nof Air Force Base, filmed against the backdrop of a military aircraft.

The Legal Basis

Section 2A of the Elections (Modes of Propaganda) Law prohibits the use of funds or assets belonging to a public body in connection with election propaganda. Sohlberg explained that the prohibition ensures equality among candidates, preserves state resources for the benefit of the entire public and protects the nonpolitical character of the civil service. In his view, an official position should not provide a candidate with exclusive scenery, access or filming opportunities for campaign purposes.

What this means for you

Ministers and other candidates may not turn access they possess by virtue of their positions to military bases, prisons, the police and government footage into an advantage in their campaigns. A publication may be deemed propaganda even if it is presented as informing the public or as a means of deterrence—the tests are its primary purpose and the use of resources unavailable to competitors. The consequences may include removal of the material and the imposition of personal costs on the politician, as well as payments by the authorities involved.

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