Election Chief Orders Ben Gvir to Remove Prison Campaign Video

Central Election Committee Orders Ben Gvir to Remove Prison Video

Central Election Committee Chairman Justice Noam Solberg issued a temporary injunction ordering National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the "Otzma Yehudit" party to immediately remove a promotional video filmed during a prison visit. The decision follows a petition filed by the Movement for Quality Government, which argued that the minister illegally utilized state assets and public property for election propaganda purposes.

Justice Solberg determined that the newly published footage closely mirrors a similar video clip that was ordered to be taken down a week and a half ago. Consequently, the temporary injunction remains in effect pending a final ruling on the matter.

Content of the Controversial Footage

The disputed video features Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visiting a prison facility in the south of the country approximately a month ago, where he confronted members of a terrorist cell that allegedly attempted to assassinate him and harm his family.

"11 times they tried to murder me. 11 times the Almighty saved me from their hands through His messengers in the security forces," Ben Gvir stated in the accompanying message. "I looked them in the eyes and saw their legs shaking. I stood tall and told them: look where you are today and look where I am. I will continue to push for the death penalty for terrorists, and until then, my prison policy will guarantee you a living hell."

Legal Context and Background

The petition highlights strict regulations governing the use of state facilities, security personnel, and public institutions by incumbent politicians during an active election cycle. The Movement for Quality Government argued that utilizing high-security prison visits for political messaging breaches electoral laws regarding the misuse of public resources for campaign purposes.