Finance Minister Smotrich Responds to Election Committee Order to Remove AI Video Featuring Gadi Eizenkot and Abu Mazen

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded on Sunday to the Central Elections Committee chairman Noam Solberg's directive to remove his party's propaganda video from the internet. The video used artificial intelligence to depict a fabricated meeting between former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). Smotrich stated that although the video will be taken down, "the truth remains," emphasizing that reality is not AI. He cited comments by former IDF General Mil Abu Rokon, who referred to Abu Mazen as a "partner," and accused Eizenkot and members of the war cabinet from the Democratic Party in the government of refusing to condemn a deadly attack that occurred the previous Friday. Smotrich warned that these figures intend to establish a Palestinian state and advance a peace agreement with Abu Mazen.

Earlier the same day, Noam Solberg ordered Smotrich to remove the AI-generated video showing Eizenkot shaking hands with Abu Mazen, and imposed a 10,000 shekel fine on him. The video, posted on Smotrich's Facebook page, also showed Knesset member Mansour Abbas joining the handshake. Solberg's decision noted that the video segment was created with AI but appeared realistic, falsely implying a political alliance between Eizenkot and Abbas that does not exist. This was deemed a violation of the prohibition against unfair interference in election propaganda under Israel's Election Law of 1959. Although the video included a disclaimer about its AI nature, Solberg ruled it insufficient to prevent potential deception due to the way it was displayed on Facebook and the disclaimer's wording.