Israel
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Ban does not apply to foreign individual contributions?for the primaries and which does not exceed 50,000 NIS [I$ 13,000].
|
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
|
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
Yes
|
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
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8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
|
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Source
Section 8, Clause a (page 6): 'A party group or candidates' list shall not, directly or indirectly, receive any contribution from a body corporate whether in Israel or abroad. For the purposes of this provision, ?body corporate? includes a registered partnership.'Section 8, Clause d1 (page 6): 'A party group or candidates' list shall not receive contributions other than from a voter within its meaning in the Elections Law.' (Source: Political Parties Financing Law 5733-1973, 1973) |
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from corporations to candidates are banned. Source
'The bodies which participate in the Knesset elections are called 'lists.' A list of candidates must consist of at least one registered party, but it could also contain several parties. (...) A list may also include individuals and movements that are not registered as parties.' (Source: Parties, Lists, Parliamentary Groups and Movements. Available at http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections17/eng/about/PartiesEtc_eng.htm. Published N/A, Accessed 20 August 2011) Section 8, Clause a (page 6): 'A party group or candidates' list shall not, directly or indirectly, receive any contribution from a body corporate whether in Israel or abroad. For the purposes of this provision, ?body corporate? includes a registered partnership.'Section 8, Clause d1 (page 6): 'A party group or candidates' list shall not receive contributions other than from a voter within its meaning in the Elections Law.' (Source: Political Parties Financing Law 5733-1973, 1973) |
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Source
Section 8, Clause a (page 6): 'A party group or candidates' list shall not, directly or indirectly, receive any contribution from a body corporate whether in Israel or abroad. For the purposes of this provision, ?body corporate? includes a registered partnership.'Section 8, Clause d1 (page 6): 'A party group or candidates' list shall not receive contributions other than from a voter within its meaning in the Elections Law.' (Source: Political Parties Financing Law 5733-1973, 1973) |
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from corporations to candidates are banned. Source
'The bodies which participate in the Knesset elections are called 'lists.' A list of candidates must consist of at least one registered party, but it could also contain several parties. (...) A list may also include individuals and movements that are not registered as parties.' (Source: Parties, Lists, Parliamentary Groups and Movements. Available at http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections17/eng/about/PartiesEtc_eng.htm. Published N/A, Accessed 20 August 2011) Section 8, Clause a (page 6): 'A party group or candidates' list shall not, directly or indirectly, receive any contribution from a body corporate whether in Israel or abroad. For the purposes of this provision, ?body corporate? includes a registered partnership.'Section 8, Clause d1 (page 6): 'A party group or candidates' list shall not receive contributions other than from a voter within its meaning in the Elections Law.' (Source: Political Parties Financing Law 5733-1973, 1973) |
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
National media is required to be fair in its reporting during national elections. The use of funds or property that originates from for example Ministries, state owned companies or institutions is prohibited.
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14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
Yes, for natural persons
Source
Section 8, Clause b (page 6): 'A party group or candidates' list shall not, directly or indirectly, receive any contribution that is not from a body corporate as aforesaid in subsection (a) in an amount or amounts exceeding 900 new shekels a year from an individual and his household.' (Source: Political Parties Financing Law 5733-1973, 1973) 'A party or a candidate list may not receive any donation from a household exceeding 2000 NIS ($480) in an election year and 1000 NIS ($240) for any other year.' (Source: Levush, Ruth (2009) Campaign Finance: Israel. Library of Congress (available at http://www.loc.gov/law/help/campaign-finance/israel.php 2011-08-21)) |
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
Maximum 1,000 new shekels [I$ 270] per year from an individual and his/her household.
|
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
Yes, for natural persons
Comment
Applies to the year in which elections to the Parliament or to local authorities are held. Entity regulated is household Source
'A party or a candidate list may not receive any donation from a household exceeding 2000 NIS ($480) in an election year and 1000 NIS ($240) for any other year.' (Source: Levush, Ruth (2009) Campaign Finance: Israel. Library of Congress (available at http://www.loc.gov/law/help/campaign-finance/israel.php 2011-08-21)) |
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
Maximum 2,000 new shekels [I$ 540] from an individual and his/her household.
Comment
Applies?to the?year elections to the?Parliament or to local authorities are held.
|
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
Applies to primary elections. Only parties are allowed to run in national elections, candidates may only run individual campaigns in intra-party races. Source
'Candidates do not have the right to an independent campaign for election to the Knesset election. Party groups and candidate lists nominate their candidate for the post and incur expenses in promoting that individual?s candidacy. Candidates, however, run independent campaigns within their party primaries. The Law limits the total amount that may be contributed to an individual?s campaign in the primaries' (Source: Levush, Ruth (2009) Campaign Finance: Israel. Library of Congress (available at http://www.loc.gov/law/help/campaign-finance/israel.php 2011-08-21)) |
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
NIS 405,000 [I$ 109,000] per candidate, plus NIS 2 for every voter above 100,000 voters. For a candidate for Prime Minister or Party Chairman in primaries with up to 50,000 qualified voters the limit is NIS 810,000 [I$ 219,000]. In primaries with over 50,000 eligible voters the limit is NIS 1,620,000 [I$ 437,000]
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20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
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21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
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22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
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23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
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24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
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27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Representation in elected body
Comment
Firstly, a party must be represented in the Parliament or be recognized by the Parliament House Committee. Further, to be entitled to campaign support as well as regular assistance a party must within 15 days after the determining day (the 101st day before elections) notify the Speaker of the Parliament of the names of at least two and maximum eight party representatives; submit a declaration that the party will keep a proper account of its income and expenditures; notify the Speaker of the number of its account; as well as notify the Speaker of the name, address and other details of the accountant.
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30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Equal Flat rate by votes received
Comment
New party groups are entitled to one financing unit per seat won in the elections, plus an amount equal to one financing unit. Other party groups receive financing in accordance with seats won in the outgoing Parliament, plus the number of seats won in the incoming Parliament, divided by two and added by an amount equal to one financing unit.
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31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
No
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Parties and candidates' lists are entitled to free TV and radio time, though the TV program itself must be produced and financed by the parties. |
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Comment
Each party and candidates' list are given 10 minutes on TV and 25 minutes on radio, and parties with Parliamentary representation are given extra minutes for each representative (3 and 6 minutes respectively). |
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
Comment
Only to political parties |
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Reduced rates for political meetings in public places.
|
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
No
|
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Limits apply to election expenses as well as running expenses. |
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Election expenses may not exceed seventy financing units. Limits also vary depending on how many Knesset members a party has on the determining day (101st day before elections). For example, a party group with up to five members in the Parliament may no exceed ten financing units. Limits for party groups with more than ten members are two units for each of the first ten members and one and a half unit for every remaining member.
Comment
A 'financing unit' is an amount designated by the Finance Committe of the Parliament. |
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Applies to intra-party campaigns, as candidates may only campaign individually within their party primaries. |
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
The limit applies to the candidates party
Comment
Limits are adjusted yearly. |
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
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44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Annually
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Candidates shall submit details on financial activity during the nine months preceding the primaries. |
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The public is informed of the volume of income and expenditures of parties through the State Comptroller's report. Details are given in cases where violations have occured. |
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Yes
|
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
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54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
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55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Auditing agency
Comment
The State Comptroller receives reports both annually and in relation to elections.
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56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Auditing agency
Comment
The State Comptroller is monitoring the parties year-round.
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57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
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58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
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