Religious Zionism Party Members Criticize Controversial AI Election Video

Internal communications from within the Religious Zionism party's central committee reveal significant criticism regarding a controversial AI-generated election video that caused a political uproar this week. The video depicted Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara being dragged by police through burning streets, as part of the party's launch of its judicial reform platform.

While some members supported the party's judicial reform plan, others expressed concern in the leaked exchanges that the video's nature could harm the party's election prospects. "We need to be focused on the goal, and it is only one!" one participant wrote, emphasizing that the aim is to attract undecided voters, not alienate them. "If they are focused solely on this goal, they will not release such videos that do the exact opposite!! It is highly recommended that someone who understands this goal oversees what is published."

Another message suggested forming a "mature and responsible" team to approve all campaign materials before distribution. The internal discussions also touched upon campaign messaging in relation to Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir, with one member stating, "We have no goal to bring down Ben-Gvir, this is shooting ourselves in the foot." The focus, they argued, should be on attracting undecided voters from the left, not alienating potential allies.

One participant differentiated between the reform plan itself, calling it "excellent," and the accompanying video, which they deemed "more damaging." This internal dissent echoes a public statement made by Itamar Eitam, a new candidate for the Religious Zionism party, who stated he did not like the video. The AI video, released on Tuesday, drew sharp criticism from various political figures, including President Isaac Herzog, who stated, "Elections are not a civil war. Not even in offensive AI videos," and added that "nothing justifies violence - ever." Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan also strongly condemned the video, while Naftali Bennett responded with a biblical quote.