Who hangs hundreds of signs throughout Herzliya against Mayor Moshe Fadlon, 'You chose Fadlon - you got crime families.' The petition filed by the mayor several months ago at the height of the election campaign was rejected by Judge Dr. Michal Agmon Gonen, chairman of the Tel Aviv Regional Elections Committee, with harsh criticism of Moshe Fadlon's conduct.
At the height of the election campaign, hundreds of anonymous signs were hung every night against the mayor. In the local elections in Herzliya, a Likud candidate, Rafi Kadosim, a convicted felon, is closely linked to the top echelons of the Likud party.
In a petition filed by Mayor Moshe Fadlon against Yariv Fischer, mayoral candidate, the Yesh Atid faction and social activist Amit Marla. It was alleged that ads were hung with the slogan at their hearts: "You chose Fadlon, you got a crime family." These ads violate the provisions of the Elections Law. Mayor Fadlon claimed that the signs were hung by Amit Marla, a social activist working on behalf of mayoral candidate Yariv Fischer, which he denied.
In order to prove his claim, Mayor Moshe Fadlon demanded that the municipality's director general and legal advisor infiltrate the security cameras deployed for security purposes in the city in order to monitor the unknown person who floods the city with signs against him.
Justice Agmon Gonen wrote in her decision: "A sitting mayor wishes to use municipal security cameras to enforce a minor offense of damage to property, which is expressed in sticking a sticker on an election ad on his behalf. The municipality's legal counsel did well to refuse the request. There is no place to use the municipality's security cameras as part of an election campaign, and certainly not in the campaign of an incumbent mayor. It should be remembered that the offense of vandalizing the surface of real estate, which is an offense relating to cleanliness and general public order, and certainly insofar as its purpose is to realize freedom of expression, does not justify infringement of basic freedoms."
Election Committee criticizing Moshe Fadlon, Mayor of Herzliya/Photo processing, photo - Herzliya Spokesperson's Office and Private
Anonymous signs in Herzliya - 'You chose Fadlon you got crime families' / official website, photo - private
The judge also ruled that Mayor Fadlon's attempt to claim that the social activist acted on behalf of Yariv Fischer was not supported by any evidence. The judge also writes that care must be taken lest petitions to the Election Commission be used as a means of deterring candidates or activists from running in democratic elections.
As a result, Judge Agmon Gonen imposed personal expenses of NIS 16,<> on Mayor Moshe Fadlon and the State Camp party.
Mayor Moshe Fadlon responded to the rejection of the petition: "The residents of Herzliya were disgusted by the ugly anonymous campaign that swept the city about three months ago and was used against the state camp and against me, and contributed to division and division. Freedom of expression is not freedom of incitement against public servants. This was a campaign that was financed and hung in the dark and in secret, so it was also difficult to prove who was behind it, and yet I sought to protect my good name. We respect the decision of the Election Commission judge that there is insufficient evidence and we will continue to act only in accordance with the law. We will continue to reflect to the residents with integrity and professionalism the great work for the residents and Herzliya. Today, more than ever, I am committed to building a cohesive and strengthened society, and I will not allow an election campaign to crack the unity of the city and the country."
Yariv Fischer, Yesh Atid's candidate for mayor of Herzliya, responded to the regional election committee's decision, saying, "Herzliya deserves more than a mayor who is a small businessman with no integrity who uses municipal resources to try to achieve political goals. The residents of the city deserve proper, honest and honest leadership, and Herzliya under my leadership will be so."
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