Iranian Influence Profile Behind Facebook Post Shared by Netanyahu Adviser
Topaz Luk, adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shared a Facebook post over the weekend originating from an Iranian foreign influence profile to attack Netanyahu's political opponents and accuse them of incitement, according to network researcher Revital Solomon. Solomon, who specializes in identifying foreign influence accounts, revealed that the Facebook profile "Daniel Omer" was likely operated by Iranian agents. The post, which Luk shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, included a doctored image depicting Netanyahu and his wife being led away by armed soldiers, with a caption threatening their execution similar to Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu in 1989.
Luk condemned the post as incitement and criticized the opposition for remaining silent. The post gained traction within pro-Netanyahu media circles and was amplified by Likud spokesperson Guy Levy and i24 news channel. However, Solomon exposed that the profile was fake, noting red flags such as the non-Israeli appearance of the person in the profile picture, which was stolen from a Swiss resident named Simon, and the account's recent creation in February. The profile’s followers were a mix of users from various countries, including some Israelis, and many posts were copied from other X users, a common tactic of foreign influence operations struggling to mimic native Hebrew.
After Solomon’s exposure, the Facebook account was closed, but Luk’s post remains online despite warnings about its foreign origin. Solomon warned of a dual threat: hostile foreign actors attempting to disrupt Israeli public discourse and domestic political figures exploiting such content for their agendas. She criticized Israeli security agencies for failing to act against pro-Hamas and Iranian influence networks on social media, leaving Israeli users vulnerable.
With the Israeli election campaign underway, Solomon cautioned that foreign influence operations would intensify, fueling division and mistrust. She highlighted the danger of senior government affiliates using these foreign-origin posts to attack political rivals, combined with social media platforms’ ineffective responses, as a serious concern for Israeli democracy and public safety.
