Israel Court Fines Itamar Ben Gvir Over Campaign Videos Filmed in Prison
Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg fined National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir 35,000 shekels for unlawfully using prison facilities and public resources for political campaign videos on social media.
The Central Election Committee chairman, Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg, imposed a hefty fine of 35,000 shekels on Itamar Ben Gvir and the Otzma Yehudit faction on Wednesday. The penalty was issued after ruling that the national security minister repeatedly made unlawful use of public resources for social media campaign purposes.
Prison Video and Controversial Statements
The ruling followed a petition filed by the Movement for Quality Government regarding a video published by Ben Gvir on October 11 across his social media accounts. The footage shows the minister inside a prison cell in the south, flanked by armed guards and inmates he claimed belonged to a cell planning to assassinate him and his family members.
During the encounter, Ben Gvir addressed one of the inmates, stating: "You messed with the wrong minister. I am not afraid of you or a thousand like you. And God willing, we will execute you." He later added: "It used to be the Hilton before I came. But today that has changed. I am telling you, I will continue to stiffen the conditions in the prisons here."
Ben Gvir argued in response that the footage was not campaign propaganda, but rather a personal encounter of a crime victim aimed at deterring those who sought to murder him. Justice Solberg flatly rejected this defense, pointing out that similar petitions against the minister had been upheld earlier this month and in March.
Judicial Rebuke and Further Petitions
Justice Solberg emphasized that the minister's decision to film the meeting and distribute it to hundreds of thousands of followers proved it was not a private event. Solberg noted that other candidates and ministers do not enjoy such privileged access to the Israel Prison Service.
The law is not a recommendation. Just as this applies to planning and construction laws, it applies equally to election propaganda laws, Justice Solberg wrote.
Due to the recurrence of such violations, Solberg ordered Ben Gvir and Otzma Yehudit to pay 5,000 shekels to the Movement for Quality Government and 30,000 shekels to the state treasury. Meanwhile, the Movement for Quality Government filed an additional petition against another video posted by the minister inside a prison, prompting the court to issue a temporary injunction ordering its immediate removal.
