Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party petitioned Israel's Central Elections Committee on Wednesday, demanding that it block initiatives helping Israeli expats fly home to vote in the upcoming election.
The petition was filed against the America-Israel Democracy Coalition, or AID Coalition, and its nonprofit Israeli Base, citing voter bribery and a violation of the parties' financing law. AID Coalition operates a program called Fly & Vote, a program that helps Israeli expats determine whether they are eligible to vote and helps secure seats on flights to Israel.
The petition was also filed against the Democrats party. Likud claims there is evidence linking the Democrats' goal of "undermining public support for Likud" with the other organizations' activities.
An estimated 1 million Israelis live outside Israel, and under Israeli law, citizens cannot vote overseas. Likud, the ruling party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatened to pursue legal action against AID Coalition in May, and Transportation Ministry officials have discussed ways to limit flights to Israel ahead of the election.
According to Likud's petition, filed by attorney Ilan Bombach, the Fly & Vote initiative is intended to help Israelis abroad for political purposes and AID Coalition is affiliated with the fringes of Israel's left-wing camp, a claim the organization denies.
The petition argues that even if participants pay for their own flights, they receive other benefits through what Likud says are prohibited means, including group purchasing power, exclusive or early access to flights, coordination services, accommodation and transportation and assistance with documents.
Likud said it was not seeking to prevent Israelis from voting or to discourage citizens from participating in the election, but rather "to distinguish between general civic activity and organized, funded and targeted election activity."
The party accused the initiative of exerting "unfair influence on participation in the election" and warned that it could "seriously undermine the integrity of the election and the equality and fairness of the electoral process."
AID Coalition said in response that Likud was seeking to prevent Israelis from voting.
"We have received Likud's petition, which seeks to deny those who boarded planes to fight on October 7, who pay taxes and remain involved in the life of their homeland, the right and obligation to take part in determining the future of the State of Israel," the organization said. "We will study the petition and respond accordingly."
Earlier this month, responding to a warning letter Likud sent ahead of the petition, AID Coalition said it operates "completely independently of any party framework" and provides bureaucratic assistance to Israelis seeking to return to the country, rather than financial assistance.
Attorney Omri Segev, who signed the organization's response, also said the project is open to every Israeli citizen abroad, including those intending to vote for Likud.
יש לכם ילדים, הורים, אחים, בני משפחה או חברים ישראלים שחיים בחו״ל? בבחירות הקרובות הם יצטרכו להגיע לישראל כדי להצביע - וחשוב שתפנו אליהם עוד היום, ותזכירו להם שגם אם הם חיים כבר שנים מעבר לים, יש להם זכות מלאה להשתתף בבחירות הגורליות הללו ולהשפיע על עתיד המדינה. איך עושים את
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AID Coalition stressed that voters themselves bear all costs, particularly travel expenses, and said it is proud to work to strengthen Israel's democratic-liberal values. It added that it does not ask applicants about their party affiliation or condition assistance on voting for any particular party.
The organization said its Fly & Vote initiative provides bureaucratic assistance to Israelis seeking to return to vote, including checking their voting eligibility and helping with passport renewals and other documents. It also offers logistical assistance with flight routes, arrival dates and group travel arrangements.
Michal Dagon, a member of the organization running the initiative, recently told Haaretz that its goal is to help bring 50,000 to 70,000 voters to Israel. Around 20 employees have been recruited and a volunteer network established, including former Israel Airports Authority personnel. The organization has also contacted travel agencies in Israel and abroad.
Organizers say more than 30,000 Israelis have registered with the initiative to check their eligibility to vote, while several thousand have already paid a $75 commitment fee.
Dagon said that even Israelis who have lived abroad for many years and ended their Israeli tax residency can remain on the voter rolls. "The process of removing people from the voter registry barely exists," she said.
