Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg dismissed a Shas petition Friday challenging Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s directive to postpone a state-sponsored conference commemorating HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef zt”l until after the elections.

Sohlberg emphasized that he is dismissing the petition for lack of jurisdiction, saying that he lacks the authority to review the directive.

In his decision, Solberg explained that the chairman of the Elections Committee does not have the authority to issue declaratory orders determining whether holding the conference would comply with election campaign laws. Solberg noted that Shas’s request was effectively a request for an advance legal opinion on how the law should be interpreted.

Sohlberg stressed that dismissing the petition does not constitute an endorsement of the attorney general’s position and does not reject Shas’s arguments on their merits.

“It is clear that nothing stated here should be understood as expressing any position on the merits of the matter, and the parties’ arguments are preserved for proceedings before the competent authorities,” he wrote.

The ruling means that Shas can attempt to bring the dispute before another judicial body with jurisdiction to examine the legality of the attorney general’s directive. For now, however, the directive remains in effect, meaning the state-sponsored conference cannot be held on its scheduled dates before the election.

Shas sought to overturn the attorney general’s directive and allow the Religious Services Ministry to hold the three-day conference commemorating Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l as scheduled, from October 8–10, 2026.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)