Documentation of the daily operation of Darkenu, an NGO describing itself a "pro-peace organization" indicates that the group is massively campaigning for the Left in an attempt to drive up voter turnout, but its activities may be violating the orders of the Central Election Committee, Israel Hayom learned Monday.
Darkenu is registered as a non-political entity that is not affiliated with a specific party. But ahead of the September 2019 elections, the Likud claimed it has been de facto running the Center-Left's grassroots operation by promoting, albeit indirectly, the Blue and White Knesset slate.
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Darkenu is the latest iteration of Victory2015 (V15), which created a similar controversy during the 2015 election when it actively called on Israelis to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Darkenu, like V15, has refused to register with the State Comptroller's Office as a political entity, something that would allow it to act on behalf of either side of the political spectrum freely but would also require it to disclose, in full, the names of its donors and financial actitivty.
A review of the group's operation clearly shows that it is trying to walk the very fine line between adhering to the regulations set by the Central Election Committee and the desire to have a profound impact on the results of next week's elections.
In September, Darkenu stated that is seeks only to "encourage an overall higher voter turnout," and stressed that its activities "are independent of any political affiliation," saying its campaign "equally addressed all areas in Israel where voter turnout the in previous elections [in April 2019] was low."
However, according to the materials obtained by Israel Hayom, Darkenu is apparently breaching its own statement in two ways: First, it operates primarily in central Israel, using a database of some 370,000 Israelis who identify with center-left values, and its campaign does not promote overall voter turnout. Second, the NGO cooperates with distinct political elements associated with left-wing parties, in clear violation of the orders handed down by the Central Election Committee.
The database used by Darkenu "Our Way" holds a database of more than 370,000 people gathered during various activities such as the Rabin Assembly, petitions initiated by the organization and demonstrations. This information serves as a basis for analyzing and creating a campaign to encourage voting, which will naturally focus on left-wingers."
In a recording obtained by Israel Hayom, Shir Stiassny, one of Darkenu's volunteers' coordinator acknowledges that the organization targets primarily individuals who identify with leftist values: "There are 370,000 people in the database who have supported Darkenu through various initiatives.
"Darkenu believes there is a moderate majority in Israel that believes in the same liberal values, a Jewish and democratic state, and the eradication of racism and incitement." Geographically, she said, "Most of the people in our database are from the Gush Dan [greater Tel Aviv] area or the center."
In a conversation with an activist, Stiassny stressed that she is "legally barred from discussing my personal political opinions."
Darkenu is also associated with a group of Labor party activists trying to boost voted of the Labor-Gesher-Meretz alliance.
Talma Alyagon-Rose, one of the owners of Israeli publishing house Kinneret Zmora-Bitan Dvir, who heads the group, is heard saying on one of the recordings that "Darkenu, unlike other groups, is limited. They can't … The second anyone finds out Likud will seek an injunction ... but they can do a 'go vote' [campaign]."
Commenting on a geographical division in terms of voter campaign Alyagon-Rose said, "They [Darkenu] are obliged not to do this exclusively in areas where we have the votes they have to be objective and really drive up voter turnout."
Still, the NGO can share its database: "They know exactly what areas ... they let us work only in those areas. They've done it before. … With all the list of who participated in all sorts of things that indicates they are leftists – they have lists. ... We work with their support."
In response to these claims, Darkenu said: "For at least a month and a half, since the third elections were called, our movement has been encouraging voting among the Israeli public as a whole, as an important democratic mission, to which volunteers from all over the country have rallied.
"Anyone who seeks to help raise the overall voting percentage – on the ground, on social media, and over the phone – is welcomed as a volunteer and is offered assistance, regardless of their affiliation with any political party, without asking questions an without [Darkenu] knowing who the volunteers vote for, provided they encourage people to vote.
"There is a real fear that parts of the Israeli public, across the board, who feel despair and disappointment over the inability to form a government, will remain at home and protest the situation by not voting.
"Darkenu works across Israel in various forms, digital as well as by using volunteers and staff. The movement works with volunteers and anyone who cares and wants to encourage voting in general, as means to exercise a civic right and duty, but [it does] not [work] with political parties or bodies that are part of them," the statement said.
Alyagon-Rose was unavailable for comment.
