The Yesh Atid political party is to be issued a fine of NIS 40,000 for receiving personal and sensitive information on Holocaust survivors, which it then used for propaganda purposes in the last Knesset elections.

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The Israel Law, Information and Technology Authority (ILITA), which operates under the Ministry of Justice announced its conculsions on the matter on Wednesday.

The Center Organizations of Holocaust Survivors in Israel, which provided the information to Yesh Atid, was also fined for NIS 15,000.

Yair Lapid (Photo: Ido Erez)

Following complaints filed to the ILITA, a thorough investigation was carried out which included searches of the party's computers.

According to the investigation's findings, Chairwoman of the organization and former MK Colette Avital passed information to Yesh Atid party Chairman Yair Lapid—at his request—files that included lists containing sensitive personal information on Holocaust survivors.

There was no consent given by the Holocaust survivors said to have their information given, in violation with the Personal Privacy Act.

The party then used the information for propaganda purposes and to directly address Holocaust survivors by mail ahead of the elections for the 20th Knesset.

Colette Avital

Representatives of the party and organization were called for a hearing, during which they were given the opportunity to respond to the allegations against them.

After the end of these proceedings, it was decided that all those involved had violated the law, and were thus fined.

Following the ILITA's announcement, Yesh Atid issued a statement: "We have etched on our party's flag the importance of law and order. This is a one-time mishap done during an election campaign, innocently and with no knowledge that it was outside the law," the statement read.

"This is the first time that the party has broken the law and we take full responsibility for the transgression and are making efforts to ensure that it never happens again."

The ILITA responded that they "will keep enforcing the Personal Privacy Act within every organization in Israel, especially when it involves the protection of personal information of populations like the underage or the elderly."

(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)