Likud and AID Coalition Reach Deal Over Voter Flights

The Likud party reached a compromise on Tuesday with the AID Coalition, a US-based nonprofit, resolving a legal dispute over the Fly&Vote and Fly&AID initiatives. Likud had filed a petition with the Central Elections Committee alleging that the nonprofit used a foreign corporation to illegally induce Israeli expatriates to return for the October 27 election through travel benefits and logistical support, which the party argued constituted bribery or vote-buying.

Under an agreement brokered by Justice Noam Sohlberg, the AID Coalition will not subsidize ticket costs or organize any flights beyond the six already advertised. These remaining flights will be sold at market rates set by airlines. As part of the settlement, the AID Coalition will pay 10,000 NIS to cover Likud's legal fees.

The AID Coalition maintains it is a nonpartisan entity. Because Israel generally prohibits absentee voting, the organization reports that approximately 53,000 Israelis plan to fly to the country to cast their ballots.