Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Monday, March 2, 2020

Election Committee fines Shas for giving voters protective charms, blessings

2 March 2020, 3:43 pm Edit

The Central Elections Committee has fined the Shas party NIS 7,500 ($2,150) for distributing charms, blessings and booklets to voters at polling stations.

The ultra-Orthodox party is said to have promised voters that the trinkets would protect them from coronavirus infection.

Labor-Gesher-Meretz had appealed to the CEC to fine Shas, saying the practice constituted election bribery.

Ultra-Orthodox Israelis seen near election campaign posters outside a voting station in Tzfat on March 2, 2020 (David Cohen/Flash90)