A NIS 40,000 was levied against the Yesh Atid opposition party for receiving and abusing personal information pertaining to Holocaust survivors, using private details to advance the party’s campaign.

The Israel Law, Information and Technology Authority (ILITA), which operates under the Ministry of Justice announced its decision on Wednesday 7 Iyar following a probe into the political party and The Center Organizations of Holocaust Survivors in Israel, as the latter furnished the information to Yesh Atid. The latter was fined NIS 15,000 for its role in the event.

A complaint was filed with ILITA, and following a probe, it was learned that former left-wing MK Colette Avital, who chairs the Holocaust organization, approved the forwarding of the confidential information to Yesh Atid. This included sensitive private details pertaining to the survivors, all done without their consent.

In the party’s statement to the media, Yesh Atid officials explain they were unaware their actions were not within the framework of the law, assuring the media it was a one-time occurrence.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)