The Central Elections Committee (CEC) banned on Tuesday a broadcast of a stand-up program in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was slated to participate, claiming that it was "election propaganda."
Netanyahu's nine-minute segment was to be aired later in the day on Channel 13's "Stand-Up Nation."
The petition, filed by Attorney Shachar Ben Meir, claimed that the prime minister's appearance, three weeks before the March 23 election, means the broadcast will be used as election propaganda.
Head of the CEC, Justice Uzi Vogelman, said in his decision that, "indeed, watching the segment shows that its purpose is entertainment."
"However," he added, "throughout the clip, there are messages that relate directly to issues on the political agenda."
Vogelman added that had politicians from other parties been invited to participate in the show, he would have made a different verdict on the matter.
But, due to Netanyahu alone appearing on the broadcast, it creates an unbalanced portrayal.
He added that Channel 13 would be allowed to air the segment after March 23.
Netanyahu's Likud party said it would appeal the decision, claiming it was being "censored" while other politicians are granted softball interviews on morning shows, and the "Eretz Nehederet" political satire show is permitted to be on air.
"There cannot be one law for Likud and another for the rest," the right-wing party said.