A major reversal has taken place in the UK’s World Zionist Organization (WZO) election process, as the World Zionist Congress has overturned a controversial ruling that had barred the chareidi Eretz HaKodesh UK list from participating in the elections. The Central Elections Committee (CEC) in Israel found that there was not enough proof to support claims of voter fraud.
The CEC criticized the decision made last month by the UK’s Area Election Committee (AEC), saying it was “extreme and disproportionate.” It also raised concerns that political motives may have influenced the suspension of EHK.
The UK committee’s initial decision was based on an advertisement circulated by EHK, which implied that men could register their wives and adult children to vote—a direct violation of WZO election procedures. The ad had read: “Husbands can register wives & any children 18+. Please bring their ID.”
EHK appealed the decision, prompting the CEC to conduct its own review. The committee ultimately ruled that the evidence presented did not demonstrate that any actual harm had occurred as a result of the advertisement. In its decision, the CEC wrote: “No one knows whether any person actually registered someone else. Thus, the damage is theoretical. The act of violation did not involve actual voting, nor the registration of ineligible voters. The registration process may be flawed, but not the registrants themselves.”
The CEC also acknowledged that EHK took prompt action once the issue was identified: “Shortly after the violation, Eretz HaKodesh realized the mistake and published correcting ads… The committee believes Eretz HaKodesh did what it could to minimize the damage.”
The committee further noted that the AEC had overstepped its role and failed to follow proper procedure. The CEC stated that it was “doubtful whether the regional election committee has the authority to disqualify a list for violating rules (as opposed to disqualifying ineligible voters or candidates).”
The CEC pointed out that disqualification is only permitted in specific scenarios, and violations involving how candidates register do not meet those criteria.
Moreover, the CEC criticized the UK committee for failing to conduct a proper inquiry: “The UK investigation committee should have summoned the relevant Eretz HaKodesh official to clarify the violation, its extent, and consequences. Since this was not done, and in absence of other evidence, it must be assumed the damage was theoretical.”
The committee’s conclusion was definitive: “The AEC UK took an extreme and disproportionate step of disqualification. The severity is emphasized by the fact that the decision was made by a political majority of rivals. AEC should have shown restraint in such matters.”
The CEC’s judgment, delivered by attorneys Mira Amsalem Beit-On and Chagai Siton, along with Judge Oded Mudrik, declared the UK committee’s disqualification of EHK to be “null and void.”
Despite the setback, the AEC still has the option of bringing the matter before the Zionist Supreme Court for further review.
{Matzav.com}