Israeli Party Uses AI to Court Russian Speakers Amid Election Woes
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
The "Am Israel" party, led by Ofer Winter, is employing artificial intelligence to dub campaign materials into Russian in an effort to win over Russian-speaking voters and overcome declining poll numbers. Recent surveys place the party below the electoral threshold, prompting this strategic shift. Yoseph Haddad, a popular figure among Russian speakers, is a key component of the campaign. Despite a former candidate's withdrawal due to poll concerns, Winter insists the party will continue its run.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The "Am Israel" party is using AI to dub campaign videos into Russian to appeal to Russian-speaking voters.
- Recent polls show the party's support at 2.8%, below the 3.25% electoral threshold.
- Yoseph Haddad, popular with Russian speakers, is a central figure in the new campaign strategy.
- The party aims to attract voters from Avigdor Lieberman's "Yisrael Beiteinu" party.
- Davidi Ben Zion, a former candidate, withdrew citing concerns about the party's low poll numbers.
The "Am Israel" party, led by Ofer Winter, is facing a critical juncture in the upcoming elections as recent polls show its support dropping to 2.8%, below the 3.25% electoral threshold. In a bid to secure Knesset representation, the party has launched a new campaign targeting Russian-speaking Israelis, a demographic historically aligned with Avigdor Lieberman's "Yisrael Beiteinu" party.
The strategy includes establishing a dedicated Russian desk, securing media appearances on Russian-language channels, and utilizing artificial intelligence to dub campaign videos and messages into Russian. This AI-driven approach aims to allow candidates, including Yoseph Haddad, who do not speak Russian, to directly address the community without relying solely on subtitles.
Internal polls reportedly indicated that Haddad, a prominent figure among Russian speakers, enjoys significant popularity, prompting the party's pivot. "Am Israel" estimates it has already gained one to two seats from "Yisrael Beiteinu" and hopes to expand this trend. Haddad recently gave an interview to Channel 9, explaining his decision to join Winter's party over the Likud and outlining his vision for a Ministry of Public Diplomacy.
The party's efforts come as Davidi Ben Zion, formerly ranked eighth on the "Am Israel" list, announced his withdrawal, citing concerns about the party's low poll numbers and the risk of wasting votes. Ben Zion reportedly consulted with Ayelet Shaked, who warned of the party's potential failure to pass the electoral threshold. Despite these challenges, Winter has affirmed the party's commitment to running until the end.
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