Smotrich's AI-Generated Video Depicting Judges Sparks Outrage

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ignited a political firestorm on Tuesday with the release of a controversial video on social media. The clip, created using artificial intelligence, depicts Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, Justice Daphne Barak Erez, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara being dragged by police during a protest.

The video drew widespread condemnation from opposition figures and other political leaders. Gadi Eisenkot, head of the National Unity party, denounced the "despicable and violent video" as the work of someone who "supports draft evasion and refusal," accusing Smotrich of tarnishing the religious Zionist community. Eisenkot warned that Smotrich and his allies "learned nothing from October 7th" and are willing to drag Israeli society into an abyss out of political desperation.

Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic Party, labeled the video "dangerous incitement and incitement to bloodshed," stating that Smotrich, who previously described Hamas as an "asset," knows exactly what he is doing by targeting top legal officials. Golan asserted that incitement is all that remains for Smotrich and his allies when the public tires of them.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reacted to the campaign by quoting a biblical verse about striking a fellow man. Smotrich, in response to the backlash, addressed Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, urging them to publish their own detailed plans for judicial reform, challenging them to present their platforms to the public for a decision, rather than relying on slogans.