Israeli Election Committee Chair Orders Smotrich to Remove AI Video of Gadi Eizenkot and Abu Mazen

Noam Solberg, chairman of Israel's Central Election Committee, has ordered Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to remove an AI-generated video showing former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot shaking hands with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). The directive came hours after the committee announced a new law banning AI propaganda videos in election campaigns. The video, posted on Smotrich's Facebook page, also depicted Knesset member Mansour Abbas joining the handshake, creating a false impression of political affiliation between Eizenkot and Abbas. Solberg ruled that this fabricated scene, despite a label indicating AI editing, could mislead viewers and violates election propaganda laws that prohibit unfair interference with a party's campaign. Smotrich was also ordered to pay 10,000 shekels to the petitioners, the "Yashar LeIsrael with Eizenkot" party and the "Choosing Israel" association, who filed the complaint. Solberg emphasized that the AI disclosure was insufficient due to Facebook's display format, which might prevent viewers from noticing the label. The video must be removed from all Smotrich's social media accounts immediately.