Likud and the operators of Fly&Vote and Fly&AID have reached an agreement limiting the projects’ flight offerings ahead of Israel’s elections, resolving a petition filed with the Central Elections Committee.

Under the compromise, prices for flights already offered through the projects will remain as set by the airlines. No additional flights will be sold through the initiatives.

The agreement followed a suggestion by Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg that the parties reach a negotiated arrangement. Likud’s petition was closed as part of the settlement.

In the petition, Likud attorney Ilan Bombach argued that a “foreign corporation” was encouraging Israelis living abroad to return around Election Day through logistical assistance and travel-related benefits.

He claimed those activities included leasing aircraft, coordinating efforts to reduce ticket prices and providing services or benefits before and after voters arrived in Israel.

The organization operating the initiative rejected that characterization, saying it provides information on bureaucratic requirements, identifies flight options and assists voters with their return to Israel.

Organizers described the effort as nonpartisan, saying its sole purpose is to encourage voting and participation in the democratic process, regardless of which party a traveler supports.

The organization said it does not examine voters’ political preferences and rejected suggestions that its activities constitute bribery or vote-buying.

The compromise preserves the existing flight offers while preventing additional flights from being sold through the projects.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)