Last update - 00:00 30/01/2007
Pensioners Party fined for illegal campaign contributions
By Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondent
State Comptroller Micah Lindenstrauss on Tuesday levied fines against the Pensioners party, the National Religious party and the Balad party over violations of campaign financing laws during the race for the 17th Knesset in April 2006.
The most severe fine, NIS 62,000 was issued to the Pensioners party. The comptroller found that the party received seven illegal donations, including two corporate donations and two from an illegal donor, and four donations that exceeded the legal limit.
The party also raised money on loan from party heads, a violation of a law that allows loans only from banks.
In addition, the party violated the stipulation that they keep detailed records of all donations.
The party was found to have broken election laws by paying for their campaign in cash and acquiring services and logistic support without documentation.
The National Religious Party was fined NIS 40,000 and Balad NIS 29,000. The comptroller found that both parties paid for substantial portions of their campaigns in cash over the limit allowed, and did not make written records of the expenditures.
The former Moledet faction, now part of the National Religious Party, was fined NIS 35,000 for violations relating to the recording of campaign contributions.
The Balad party was found to have received three donations that exceeded limitations on individual donations, which they attempted to pass off as coming from a larger number of donors at lower amounts, in order to come under the legal limit for individual donations.