Full Breakdown
AI Deepfakes, Bots and Robocalls Flood Israel’s 2026 Election
By Drooid · · How we work
AI Tactics in Israel’s 2026 Election
For the first time, artificial-intelligence tools are a central feature of a national campaign. Deep-fake videos, AI-generated images and audio, and automated phone calls have been deployed by multiple parties. A 19-second clip posted on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s X account shows rival Gadi Eisenkot embracing Arab politician Mansour Abbas instead of his late son, a video that has been viewed more than 1 million times. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National-Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have also shared AI-generated videos that depict government officials and Palestinians in provocative scenarios. In addition, AI-powered robocalls that identify themselves as pollsters are contacting voters and steering them toward particular candidates, while some Israelis report using AI tools to help decide how to vote.
Scale of AI-Generated Content
- Ze Be AI, a research project of the Open University of Israel, identified more than 1,800 AI-generated posts released by the Likud party by mid-October, accounting for about a quarter of Likud’s social-media material.
- The same team collected over 44,000 posts across Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok, finding that over 14 % incorporated AI in some form.
- A network-monitoring firm, Scooper, reported that more than 1,000 new X accounts appear daily, with about 70 % of the accounts sharing Netanyahu’s posts based outside Israel and exhibiting bot-like behavior.
- A survey by the Israel Internet Association showed that roughly one-quarter of Israelis would consider using AI tools or online services to inform their voting decisions.
Official Statements & Expert Views
She added that Israel lacks specific AI regulation, noting the absence of an AI Act or a modernized privacy law.
Criticism & International Reaction
Germany’s Foreign Ministry condemned the AI video posted by Ben-Gvir that depicted Palestinians on a conveyor belt, describing it as “completely unacceptable” and “abhorrent.” The ministry’s statement underscores broader concerns that AI-driven propaganda may inflame ethnic tensions and undermine democratic discourse.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You don't need real people making real phone calls, which are obviously limited in time and capacity,” — Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler — Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute
*The Israeli election is scheduled for October 27; the outcome will determine whether Netanyahu remains in power or is replaced.*