AI-generated video triggers Israeli election complaint over deepfake political allegations
Israel's Likud party filed a complaint with the central elections committee in June 2026 alleging that Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich distributed an AI-generated video falsely depicting rival candidate Gadi Eisenkot alongside Palestinian political figures to suggest an improper political partnership. Religious Zionism disputed the characterization, describing the complaint as an attempt to silence legitimate political commentary.
What happened
Likud party filed a complaint with the Central Elections Committee against Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich, alleging he distributed a video created partially with artificial intelligence on social media.
The video reportedly depicted Gadi Eisenkot alongside Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and Ra'am chair Mansour Abbas to create a false impression of political partnership and connections that did not exist in reality.
Reported impact
Likud argued the video constituted deception of voters and presented false fact as if reflecting an authentic event, rather than satire, illustration or legitimate political interpretation.
Likud requested removal of the video from all platforms where it was published, cessation of distribution and prevention of similar content during the election campaign, characterizing it as unfair interference with campaign conduct prohibited under election law.
Index analysis
Likud cited previous election committee decisions regarding publications that allegedly created misleading political affinities between competing parties and lists.
Likud argued that artificial intelligence technology aggravated the harm by enabling creation of video with apparent authenticity of events that never occurred.
Governance controls
Religious Zionism party disputed the allegations, with Smotrich characterizing the complaint as a ridiculous attempt to silence him and claiming the video exposed the government Eisenkot would form with Mansour Abbas and Yair Golan.
Smotrich stated the AI disclosure marking was not sufficiently prominent to prevent voter deception, though the video included labeling indicating portions were AI-generated.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.