Court ruling10/20/2026

Judge: Netanyahu Unlawfully Used IDF Materials in Election Propaganda

The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Noam Sohlberg, ruled that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly incorporated materials filmed by the IDF Spokesperson into election propaganda without paying for their use. This was recognized as a violation of the prohibition on using public resources for propaganda purposes.

Key facts

•The decision was issued by Justice Noam Sohlberg
•Body: Central Elections Committee
•Date of the decision: October 20, 2026
•Legal basis: Section 2A of the Elections Law
•The case number is not stated in the source
•No monetary sums are stated in the source

What Happened

According to the source, Netanyahu repeatedly published election propaganda materials that included footage filmed by the Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson. No payment was made for the use of these materials. Sohlberg ruled that this practice is unlawful.

The Legal Basis for the Decision

The justice relied on Section 2A of the Elections Law, which prohibits the use of public resources in election propaganda. It has repeatedly been held in the past that materials filmed by the Government Press Office are a public resource and may be used only in exchange for payment. Sohlberg noted that the same requirement also applies to materials produced by the IDF Spokesperson.

Separate Petition Concerning the Prime Minister’s Speech

A petition was also filed with the Central Elections Committee seeking to cancel Netanyahu’s speech, which was scheduled to take place on October 21, 2026, at an officers’ course graduation ceremony. The IDF stated that after the petition was filed, it contacted the Ministry of Justice to obtain guidance on how to proceed. The outcome of the proceedings in this petition is not stated in the source.

What this means for you

Materials created by state bodies, including the IDF Spokesperson, may not be turned into election advertisements without payment. For ordinary citizens and election participants, the decision emphasizes that government photographs and videos are considered a public resource, and their use in propaganda is restricted by law and may require payment.

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