Supreme Court Orders Ramat Gan Mayor to Close Campaign WhatsApp Groups

The Central Elections Committee has ordered the closure of WhatsApp groups operated by Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama Hacohen after ruling that he unlawfully used emergency security updates for political campaigning. Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg upheld an appeal filed by municipal council member and political rival Liel Ilani, ordering the mayor to pay 18,000 shekels in legal costs.

The controversy began amid regional tensions, when Shama Hacohen established private WhatsApp channels titled "Ramat Gan Emergency Updates." The mayor promised residents direct security information, claiming his notices occasionally preceded official alerts from the Home Front Command. Amid rocket fire and air raid sirens, membership surged, prompting the creation of multiple groups.

During one incident, Shama Hacohen instructed residents to remain near protected spaces following rocket fire from Lebanon toward the Sharon region, even though no local siren had sounded. While defending the precautionary measure, Ilani argued in legal proceedings that the mayor exploited official security access to amass followers for a platform later utilized for electoral propaganda. Conversely, Shama Hacohen maintained the information stemmed from personal networks rather than official capacity.

Justice Solberg strongly criticized the mayor's actions, stating that the WhatsApp groups were established in transgression of electoral rules. The Supreme Court justice noted that this constituted a repeated violation of judicial instructions, ruling that heightened strictness was warranted rather than leniency. Consequently, Solberg ordered the immediate closure of the existing groups, though noting that municipal authorities may operate dedicated emergency channels, and the mayor may establish new personal networks for political communication.