Sohlberg sets Central Elections Committee hearing on Likud petition against Fly&Vote initiative

Central Elections Committee chairman and Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg has set an October 6 hearing on the Likud petition concerning AID Coalition’s Fly&Vote initiative, which helps Israelis living abroad arrange travel to Israel to vote.

In a decision issued Tuesday, Sohlberg ordered the parties to submit additional factual and legal information about the initiative’s activities, the services it offers and the payments it collects.

The additional responses are due by October 4 at 4 p.m. The hearing is scheduled for October 6 at 1 p.m. at the Knesset.

Sohlberg ordered AID Coalition to explain differences between its response to the petition and information published on the Fly&Vote website. It must detail the nature of each service listed on the site, the sequence in which it is provided and whether it is currently being offered.

He also ordered the organization to explain precisely what it called a “donation constituting an advance payment” in its response to the petition.

Sohlberg further instructed Likud and AID Coalition to address whether the CEC chairman has the authority to issue an injunction against a person or corporation outside Israel over activity conducted abroad. The attorney-general was ordered to submit her position on the same question.

AID Coalition aims to preserve 'democratic foundations of the State of Israel'

AID Coalition describes itself as a US-based “non-partisan, non-affiliated” organization whose mission is to strengthen and preserve “the democratic foundations of the State of Israel.” Its website lists projects supporting victims and communities affected by October 7, as well as collaborations with Israeli pro-democracy groups during the protest period before the attack.

Fly&Vote seeks to help Israelis living abroad participate in the October 27 election. The initiative says it helps users check their eligibility to vote, handle passport and documentation issues and find or book flights to Israel. Its website also advertises organized flights from major cities.

AID Coalition says participants bear their own travel costs and that it does not ask how they intend to vote or condition its assistance on their political views.

Likud allege links between AID Coalition and partisan activity

Likud petitioned the CEC earlier this month, naming AID Coalition and several other respondents. They include the Israeli Base nonprofit; three individuals; the Democrats party; the attorney-general; and the State Comptroller’s Office.

Israeli Base’s website describes it as a development of AID Coalition. AID Coalition has separately said that the Israeli organization is an independent and distinct entity.

The petition alleges links among AID Coalition, Israeli Base and political activity intended to weaken support for the Likud. It argues that the services or benefits offered through the initiatives may amount to prohibited election benefits or election bribery and may be subject to election-propaganda and party-financing laws.

The petition also addresses Fly&AID, a separate AID Coalition initiative offering participants a “service grant” of $250 for each day of volunteer activity in Israel, for up to three days.

In his decision, Sohlberg ordered Likud to state whether, following AID Coalition’s response, it agrees to remove the claims concerning Fly&AID. He also asked whether the party agrees to remove Israeli Base, the three individual respondents and the Democrats from the case in light of their responses.

AID Coalition rejected Likud’s allegations.

“We received the Likud’s petition, which seeks to deny Israeli citizens - those who boarded planes to fight on October 7, who pay taxes and are involved in the life of their homeland - the right and duty to take part in determining the future of the State of Israel,” it said.