Israeli Party Claims Cyberattack Ahead of Elections
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
The "Am Israel" party announced Monday that its candidates and campaign staff experienced a cyberattack that blocked their WhatsApp accounts just before elections. The party claims the attack, using foreign numbers, is part of a broader aggressive campaign to disrupt their operations. Despite the incident, the party stated its campaign preparations continued unaffected due to prior planning and has alerted authorities.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- "Am Israel" party candidates and staff were targeted by a cyberattack blocking WhatsApp access.
- The party claims the attack occurred just before elections and is part of an aggressive campaign.
- The party stated its campaign operations continued normally due to prior preparations.
- "Am Israel" has contacted authorities regarding the alleged criminal offenses.
- The incident involved attacks on personal phone numbers using foreign numbers.
The "Am Israel" party reported on Monday evening that several of its candidates and senior campaign officials had their WhatsApp accounts blocked due to a coordinated cyberattack targeting their personal phone numbers. According to the party, the phones were attacked using foreign numbers. However, due to prior preparations for various scenarios, including the possibility of mobile attacks and the advance acquisition of backup phones, the campaign's operations continued as usual.
The party described the attack on personal mobile phones as part of an "aggressive campaign." They stated that this cyberattack, along with the use of private investigators, billboards targeting candidates' families, and the exploitation of bereaved families against party members, is part of a broader effort to disrupt the party's operations on election day. The party has contacted relevant authorities to address the incident, which they claim was intentionally carried out just before the elections.
"Am Israel" party views the incident with severity, noting that it constitutes criminal offenses. Thanks to the campaign headquarters' professional and early preparations, operations quickly resumed without impacting the significant preparations for the following day's elections.
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