Wednesday evening, C14 reported that a paid social media campaign is currently urging Israelis in the country to pressure Israelis living abroad to return home and vote in the elections. Behind the initiative is an organization called “Bo’u” (“Come”).
C14 correspondent Motti Kastel revealed two years ago how the organization attempted to take control of elections for the National Union of Israeli Students. Nearly 2 million shekels (~$550,000) have been transferred to the organization over the years, while its filings do not disclose where the money originated.
1+The Bo’u organization is primarily connected to figures affiliated with Israel’s Democrats party as well as activists from the HeHalutz movement, which operates educational institutions and pre-military academies and has close ties to Democrats figures including Naama Lazimi and Yaya Fink.
Among the organization’s founders are Democrats party activists Ido Attias, a Beersheba city council member representing the Democrats, and Shiran Meir, who is close to Lazimi.
Also involved is Tomer Meiri, who serves as CEO of Yaya Fink’s nonprofit, “The Israelis,” through which millions of shekels have been raised for political activities. Some members of Bo’u are also paid employees of the HeHalutz movement. Sources within the National Union of Israeli Students claimed that Bo’u maintained very close ties with Fink.
1+However, one of the central questions surrounding both Bo’u and Fink’s “The Israelis” is the lack of transparency regarding where the money originated and how it is being spent. Nearly 2 million shekels flowed to Bo’u as it sought to take control of the National Union of Israeli Students, and the organization is now becoming involved in national elections by mobilizing voters.
On the organization’s Instagram pages, Fink can be seen encouraging Israelis abroad to return and vote so that Israel will not be left with Netanyahu, Ben Gvir and Smotrich.
C14 contacted members of the organization and attempted to determine where the millions of shekels originated. Shiran Meir declined to comment to Channel 14. Yaya Fink, Tomer Meiri, Ido Attias and the organization’s legal adviser, attorney Ram Pardes, did not respond to questions.