Election propaganda and public law: the complete guide

The decisions on the petitions, the amendment of the law and the coverage are collected on the election propaganda petitions page.

For employees and employers on election day: Working on Knesset election day: a day of rest, wages and who works on it.

What the law provides

The legal framework in this area rests on the following laws. The links lead to the original legislation (in Hebrew); the binding text is the one published in Sefer HaHukim (the official gazette of statutes).

• Elections (Modes of Propaganda) Law, 5719-1959
• Freedom of Information Law, 5758-1998
• Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984
• Elections to the Twenty-Sixth Knesset (Special Provisions and Legislative Amendments) Law, 5786-2026 — Sefer HaHukim 3546 (Knesset, PDF, in Hebrew)

Legislation index: all the sections the site discusses →

What counts as a prohibited use of public resources

Section 2A of the Elections (Modes of Propaganda) Law prohibits the use of public funds, public equipment and the resources of an “audited body” (such as a government ministry, a local authority or another public body) for election propaganda. The prohibition applies, among other things, to producing or publishing propaganda content with the audited body’s resources. The Law excludes two cases: the use of halls and open public places that are normally available for such use (section 2A(1)), and the use of assets placed at the disposal of a minister, deputy minister, Knesset member or head of an authority, including, since 16 July 2026, “filming as such” in their office (section 2A(2)).

The petition procedure before the Chairperson of the Central Elections Committee

Section 17B of the Law empowers the Chairperson of the Central Elections Committee to grant an injunction in the event of a breach, but only after giving the party concerned an opportunity to present its arguments. A petition to the Committee’s chairperson makes it possible to stop improper election propaganda in real time, before the elections and not only after the fact. In elections for municipalities and local councils, the application is heard before the chairperson of a regional elections committee appointed for this purpose, subject to an appeal before the chairperson of the Central Committee (section 17D).

A numerical example

Suppose the head of a local authority funds the production of a propaganda clip from the authority’s budget and publishes it on the authority’s official account, close to the elections. This is a use of the funds and assets of an audited body, not “filming as such” in the office, which section 2A(2) excludes. A petitioner may apply for an injunction. In elections for municipalities and local councils, the application is heard before the chairperson of a regional elections committee (section 17D), and the injunction will be granted only after the party concerned has been given an opportunity to present its arguments (section 17B).

For more information, see the guides Using public resources in election propaganda and Petition to the Chairperson of the Central Elections Committee, and the index of sections of the Elections (Modes of Propaganda) Law.

The guides in this area (7)

All the indexed guides on the site in this area. Each guide states the legislation it relies on.

• A petition to the Chairperson of the Central Elections Committee: how it works
• Use of public resources in election propaganda: what section 2A prohibits
• What counts as election propaganda? The tests in practice
• Basic Laws in Israel: human and civil rights
• Administrative petition: what the law actually requires
• Administrative enforcement: powers and oversight
• The Freedom of Information Law: how to get information from authorities

FAQ

What counts as an “audited body” whose assets may not be used for propaganda?
A government ministry, a local authority and any other public body subject to public audit. Section 2A prohibits the use of its funds, equipment and resources for election propaganda, regardless of which party or list makes use of them.

Can a public hall be used for a propaganda event?
Yes, if it is a hall or an open public place that is normally available for such use, for payment or without payment (section 2A(1)). Making a hall available to one list on preferential terms may take the use outside the exception.

How do you file a petition in real time before the elections?
The petition is filed with the Chairperson of the Central Elections Committee under section 17B of the Law; in elections for municipalities and local councils, with the chairperson of a regional elections committee appointed for this purpose (section 17D). The Committee’s chairperson examines the arguments and may issue an injunction, but only after giving the party concerned an opportunity to respond.

For collected answers in all practice areas, see the FAQ page, and for the map of services — all practice areas.

All the questions on the site about public law and election propaganda, grouped by page, and each question links to its answer.

For short definitions of legal terms, with the section of the law, see the glossary of legal terms.

Calculators and self-checks in employment and consumer law: see the calculators and tools page.

The content of this page is general information, is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Translated: 13 November 2026 · Hebrew version updated: 13 October 2026.