State Comptroller withholds NIS 150,000 from Likud over membership oversight failures

The State Comptroller has ordered NIS 150,000 withheld from the Likud party and NIS 75,000 from the Labor party following an audit of their 2024 faction accounts. Comptroller Matanyahu Englman found both parties noncompliant with regulations governing the use of state funding.

The audit examined the routine income and spending of 17 Knesset factions. While 15 received positive reports, Likud and Labor failed to meet standards. The comptroller's sanctions involve withholding public funding meant to maintain parties' "organizational and ideological connection with the public."

The most serious findings targeted Likud's membership registration process. The audit revealed that Likud failed to properly verify the identities of new members and the sources of payments. Notably, about 41% of credit card payments and 46% of bank transfers for membership fees involved multiple registrants, with many linked to individuals who did not appear to be related.

Englman stated these findings raise concerns that membership fees may have been paid by individuals other than the party members themselves. Under Israeli law, paying another person's membership fee to grant them voting rights in internal party elections can be a criminal offense. While the comptroller did not determine criminal liability, his report highlighted Likud's lack of controls as a serious issue.

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This is a situation that raises concern that membership fees were paid by someone else.