Elections 2009 / Shas elections ad banned for promising blessings to voters

The Central Elections Committee banned part of Shas' TV advertising campaign Tuesday in which the ultra-Orthodox party's spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef is seen giving blessings to voters.

The decision was made in accordance with the Elections Law, which prohibits the giving of blessings in exchange for votes at the ballot box.

"Blessings will come to all those who vote for Shas, to their wives and sons and students and all their families, and it will give wealth, honor, good health and renewed youth, fortune, health and all things good," Rabbi Yosef says in the ad.

This is not the first time Shas has run into trouble with elections regulations. In 2003 the Central Elections Committee banned campaigning in Shas satellite broadcasts of sermons by Rabbi Yosef.

Shas chairman Eli Yishai said the latest decision by a "dictatorship of judges" could not stop Rabbi Yosef from giving his blessings.

"No clerical decision can prevent the people of Israel from receiving blessings from our master, the sage Rabbi Ovadia, may he live a good long life," Yishai said.