Gila Gamliel’s Social Media Campaign Mixes Iran Focus, AI Initiatives, and Netanyahu Support Ahead of Education Ministry Bid

Gila Gamliel, a longtime Knesset member and current Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, is campaigning to become Israel’s next Minister of Education, a role she has aspired to for 20 years. Despite this ambition, her social media activity over the past year reveals a heavy focus on Iran-related posts, around 100 in total, rather than education issues such as teacher shortages or school violence. Instead, her educational mentions largely center on AI projects in peripheral areas and collaborations with commercial entities.

Gamliel’s social media also prominently features virtual interviews with historical figures like Menachem Begin, videos depicting a hopeful vision for Gaza’s future, and frequent praise for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she calls her closest party friend. She has posted multiple times defending Netanyahu’s legal battles and has enlisted her husband and brother-in-law, both lawyers, in efforts to delay his trial. These family members have also represented soldiers in a controversial case that ended with dropped charges.

Her AI advocacy includes claims that Israel rose to seventh place globally in the Global AI Index under her leadership, though analysis shows Israel’s ranking fluctuated and that private and academic sectors primarily drive this standing. Gamliel’s AI messaging extends to proposing AI replace legal advisors and conducting interviews with AI programs. She also criticizes the judiciary and former Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whom she labels "head of the opposition."

Gamliel’s Iran posts often feature English-language bots supporting exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, whom she calls a friend. Some videos depict symbolic acts against Iranian regime leaders and encourage Iranian women to resist the regime. Despite her role in the security cabinet, she rarely addresses the impact of Iranian missile attacks on Israeli civilians.

Her office responded that Gamliel’s educational vision has been expressed through digital learning initiatives, environmental education funding, and AI integration in schools. They defended her Iran posts as appropriate for a security cabinet member and highlighted government investments in AI infrastructure and regulation. The office also dismissed accusations of aggressive self-promotion regarding her husband and brother-in-law’s legal work.

Overall, Gamliel’s social media campaign blends security, technology, and political loyalty themes, with limited direct engagement on core education challenges, as she seeks to broaden her political base ahead of the primaries.