Full Breakdown
Netanyahu’s AI-Generated Campaign Video Draws Backlash Over Resemblance to Rival’s Fallen Son
7/22/2026, 4:06:06 AM
Core Event
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party released an AI-generated advertisement on Monday night that depicts his electoral rival Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF chief of staff and leader of the Yashar party, running through a meadow with outstretched arms toward a young man labeled “Israeli unity.” At the last moment the figure turns and embraces Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab-Israeli Ra’am party. Viewers quickly noted that the young man’s appearance closely resembles Eisenkot’s 25-year-old son Gal Eisenkot, who was killed in a tunnel explosion in Gaza in December 2023 while serving as a reservist.
Background & Political Context
The ad appears amid a heated election campaign in which Eisenkot has risen in the polls. Netanyahu’s Likud has repeatedly used anti-Arab messaging since June 2024, aiming to persuade Jewish voters that a coalition including Ra’am would threaten national security. The latest spot adds a personal dimension by invoking the memory of a fallen soldier, a tactic that commentators argue intensifies emotional appeal to a public still coping with the 2023 Hamas-led attack.
Criticism & Opposition
Several public figures condemned the video as exploitative. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan was held hostage by Hamas for 738 days, said the image made her imagine Gal Eisenkot running toward his father and called the piece “Netanyahu’s incitement machine.” Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmel Gat was murdered in Hamas captivity, posted a photograph of his relative’s victims and wrote that the ad does not represent “everyone and not now.” Former Likud minister Limor Livnat labeled the effort “pathetic” and suggested that political strategist Arthur Finkelstein would never have approved such a portrayal of a rival whose son died in a war Netanyahu managed. Former IDF spokesman Avi Benayahu argued the video demeaned both Netanyahu and Eisenkot, describing it as “humiliating” and “monstrous.”
Official Response & Revised Version
In response to the outcry, Netanyahu’s office and the Likud party issued a second version of the advertisement in which the ambiguous male figure was replaced by a woman, removing the visual link to Gal Eisenkot. No further comment from the prime minister’s office was reported.
Impact & Interpretation
The controversy highlights the growing use of AI in political messaging and raises questions about ethical boundaries when personal loss is leveraged for electoral gain. Critics argue the episode may deepen societal divisions by weaponizing grief, while supporters of the campaign view it as a legitimate strategy to underscore concerns about Arab-Israeli coalition partners. The episode underscores how digital manipulation can amplify political tensions in a post-conflict environment.
