Russian Influence Operation Linked to Israeli NGO Fuels Likud Recruitment
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
An Israeli citizen, Igor Kaminik, linked to a past Russian influence operation, has established a non-profit that is now actively recruiting Russian speakers for the ruling Likud party through Rabbi Alexander Chait. The non-profit, Dor Moriah, publishes pro-Russian content and promotes narratives critical of Ukraine, the US, and Turkey. Rabbi Chait, presented as a key figure for Russian speakers within Likud, has been seen with prominent party members, indicating a strategic effort to bolster the party's support base. The operation also involves discussions on geopolitical connections between global conflicts and Israeli security.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- An Israeli linked to Russian influence operations is recruiting Russian speakers for the Likud party.
- Igor Kaminik's non-profit, Dor Moriah, is reportedly behind the recruitment efforts.
- Rabbi Alexander Chait is presented as the leader for Russian speakers within the Likud.
- The movement has been featured on Likud-affiliated platforms like "Melukadim News."
- The non-profit publishes pro-Russian content and criticizes Ukraine, the US, and Turkey.
- Knesset members have participated in events initiated by the non-profit.
An Israeli citizen, Igor Kaminik, who was previously involved in a Russian influence operation in Israel, has established a non-profit organization that is now spearheading a movement to recruit Russian-speaking individuals to the Likud party. This finding is part of an investigation by the independent Russian outlet The Insider, which details various Kremlin influence campaigns in Israel.
Kaminik founded the "International Burk Institute" (also referred to as "Barak International Institute"), which allegedly posed as a legitimate academic institution while plagiarizing articles and attributing them to non-existent authors to promote Russian narratives. The website associated with this institute has since been removed from the internet. A portion of this investigation, focusing on the Burk Institute, was also published by Israeli journalist Ouri Blau on the "Shomrim" website.
Further investigation reveals that Kaminik also established the "Dor Moriah - For the Advancement and Integration of Immigrants in Society" non-profit in 2017. This organization, which presents itself as a "research and analysis center," publishes pro-Russian content on its Hebrew, English, and Russian websites. These texts often feature anti-Ukraine, anti-US, and anti-Turkey messages, criticizing Turkey's growing influence in Syria and the Mediterranean. The site has also published content suggesting Israeli opposition parties might not accept election results and highlighting divisions within Israeli society.
In 2024, Dor Moriah announced a partnership with Rabbi Alexander (Avraham) Chait to form the "Derech Eretz Movement," aiming to unite secular, religious, and Haredi Israelis under the banner of national unity. The announcement included rhetoric drawing parallels between social tensions in Ukraine before its war and the situation in Israel. Chait, formerly a prominent figure in the Russian-speaking department of the United Torah Judaism party, has become a key link to the Likud party.
Since mid-2025, "Melukadim News," an outlet associated with the Likud, has frequently featured Chait and "Derech Eretz." Chait is presented as "the Rabbi for Russian speakers in the Likud" and head of "the Russian force in the Likud." He has been photographed with prominent Likud figures, including ministers and Knesset members, at events. Kaminik's non-profit is reportedly behind Chait's efforts to enlist more Russian-speaking voters for the ruling party, with posts from late 2025 and early 2026 detailing successful recruitment drives and conferences organized by Chait's group within the Likud framework.
Additionally, in March 2025, Dor Moriah initiated a Knesset event for a lobby focused on personal and community representation in local government, which included MKs from various parties. An article in Maariv, co-published with Dor Moriah, discussed not only local governance but also the Russia-Ukraine conflict, linking it to a global West-South confrontation and noting that a significant percentage of Israelis perceive a connection between the conflict and Israel's own security challenges. The article suggests these messages align with Russian influence strategy by emphasizing multipolarity and divisions within Western societies.