Likud Party threatens Central Elections Committee petition over Fly&Vote initiative

Likud is seeking the data and documents underlying the initiative's activities within five days, saying the material is needed to determine whether further legal action is warranted.

The Likud Party is threatening to petition the Central Elections Committee and take legal action against the organizations behind the Fly&Vote initiative, which aims to help Israelis abroad travel to Israel to vote in the elections.

In a warning letter sent Sunday through attorney Ilan Bombach, Likud said the initiative's activities raise concerns about potential violations of election laws, particularly rules barring the provision of benefits to voters and attempts to influence how they vote.

The letter was sent, among others, to the America Israel Democracy (AID) Coalition, the "Israeli Camp," and parties involved in operating the AID Coalition. Likud is demanding that the organizations provide a series of documents and data related to the initiative's activities within five days and immediately halt any activity that the party says could influence the electoral process.

According to the letter, the initiative operates on a broad scale, with details of its activities made public through media interviews and various events. Likud's attorneys cited provisions of the Knesset Elections Law on "election bribery," arguing that providing services or benefits to citizens to influence their vote could constitute an offense.

One of Likud's main claims concerns information it says the organizations running the initiative hold. The letter alleges that a database contains identifying information about voters in the Knesset elections, as well as information about their voting intentions.

The letter also claims the initiative is working to transport voters on Election Day outside the framework established by law and is contacting voters to discourage them from voting for Likud's candidate list.

Likud further claims that the initiative's activities include publishing advertisements and election propaganda intended to influence voters. The party argues that the activities should also be examined under laws governing election propaganda and the financing of political activity, saying such activity cannot be carried out without considering the relevant legal requirements.

Likud seeks data, documents on Fly&Vote initiative

As part of its demands, Likud is seeking the data and documents on which the initiative's activities are based within five days, saying the material is needed to determine whether further legal action is warranted.

At the same time, the organizations have been instructed to immediately cease the activities, including any activities carried out jointly, remove related publications, and halt any other activity connected to the initiative.

Likud is also demanding that, by August 24, the organizations approach the chairman of the Central Elections Committee for the Knesset, request the necessary orders, and make any payment required by law for publications and activities the party claims are prohibited.

Letter sent by Likud in May demanded end to activities

The letter also refers to previous correspondence between the parties. In May, Likud sent a similar request demanding that the activities be stopped. The organizations responded, but Likud now claims that the explanations failed to address the allegations it raised.

If Likud's demands are not met, the party says it intends to petition the chairman of the Central Elections Committee and ask him to order the activities to be stopped. Likud is also reserving the right to pursue additional legal proceedings.