Likud Beytenu must compensate Bayit Yehudi after sponsoring anonymous
advertisements against its leader, Naftali Bennet, the Central Elections
Committee ruled on Wednesday.
Ads featuring the text “Bennett is
irresponsible; he supports refusing military orders” and a word bubble connected
to Bennett’s face containing the quote from a Channel 2 interview last week that
“conscientious objection is an integral part of being a soldier,” appeared in
Ma’ariv,
Haaretz and
Israel HaYom on Sunday.
The advertisements did not
cite sponsorship, but Likud Beytenu admitted soon afterward that it had paid for
them.
Bayit Yehudi petitioned the Central Elections Committee to issue a
restraining order against Likud Beytenu and the three newspapers on
Monday.
On Wednesday, committee chairman Judge Elyakim Rubinstein
required Likud Beytenu and each of the papers that printed the anonymous ad to
pay Bayit Yehudi NIS 1,000.
“There is no argument – all of the
respondents admit that the advertisement in question... does not require a
restraining order. However,
Israel HaYom,
Haaretz and
Ma’ariv must avoid
forbidden advertisements in the future,” Rubinstein stated.
“As such, and
because the Likud Beytenu list said the advertisement in question will not be
published again, there is no reason for a restraining order.”
However,
Rubinstein pointed out that the advertisement broke the Propaganda Law, which
forbids anonymous advertisements, and fined the party and the newspapers
accordingly.
Also Wednesday, the Central Election Committee required Dan
buses to display Kadima’s campaign advertisements.
The ads, which demand
that IDF soldiers receive the same monthly pay as yeshiva students, were
rejected by Dan and Egged bus companies, for fear that they would offend haredi
passengers.
Egged changed its mind before Kadima petitioned the
committee.
Dan notified the committee following the decision on Wednesday
that it will display the advertisements.