Security information and propaganda: Ramat Gan mayor again embroiled in WhatsApp row

In depth

Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg accepted the appeal of Ramat Gan city council member Yaad Ilani against mayor Carmel Shama HaCohen. Sohlberg ruled that Shama HaCohen used groups he opened for emergency updates during the war with Iran for personal propaganda.

Sohlberg ruled that Shama HaCohen used security information obtained by virtue of his position to recruit members to the groups, which were also used for political publications. He ordered the groups closed and refrained from opening new groups, and wrote that there is room for tightening in line with instructions given in the past.

Shama HaCohen was ordered to pay Yaad Ilani 18,000 shekels in court costs.