Gadi Eisenkot Threatens Legal Action Against Bezalel Smotrich Over AI Propaganda Video

Gadi Eisenkot's 'Yisrael' party has sent a legal warning to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and the Religious Zionism party, demanding the immediate removal of a provocative AI-generated propaganda video. The video, posted on Smotrich's X account, falsely depicts Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, Supreme Court Justice Daphne Barak-Erez, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara participating in a political protest against Smotrich, rioting, and being forcibly removed by police.

The party's attorney, Uri Heberman, argues the video constitutes a criminal offense under the Penal Law, specifically contempt of court, which prohibits publishing material about a judge concerning their tenure with the intent to harm their status, incriminate them, or disparage the judicial process. This offense carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment. The complaint also asserts that the video unlawfully uses the images and official capacities of senior judicial figures for election campaign purposes.

'Yisrael' clarified that their issue is not with criticism of the judiciary, but with the creation of a false reality that attributes political and criminal behavior to state officials that never occurred. They contend that Smotrich has turned these figures and the state institutions they represent into raw material for his election campaign.

The party described the doctored video, which portrays judges and the Attorney General as lawbreakers, as dangerous incitement and a call for violence. They accused Smotrich of proving once again that he has no red lines and will trample any state institution for electoral gain.

'Yisrael' demanded that Smotrich and Religious Zionism remove the video from all their accounts and advertising channels and cease its distribution by 3:00 PM on September 17.