Israeli Election Committee Orders Smotrich to Remove AI-Generated Video Showing Gadi Eizenkot Shaking Hands with Abbas

Noam Solberg, chairman of Israel's Central Elections Committee, has ordered Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to remove an AI-generated election campaign video. The video depicted Gadi Eizenkot, leader of the Yisrael party, shaking hands with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, followed by Mansour Abbas joining them. The video was challenged by Yisrael and the NGO "Choosing in Israel," who argued it misleads the public.

Solberg ruled that although the video included a label indicating it was AI-edited, the warning was insufficient due to its subtle presentation on Facebook, making it likely to deceive viewers. He emphasized that the scene never occurred but appeared realistic, falsely implying a political alliance between Eizenkot and Mansour Abbas. This, he said, violated the prohibition against unfair interference in election campaigns under Israeli election law.

Additionally, Smotrich was ordered to pay 10,000 shekels in legal costs to the petitioners. In response, Smotrich stated that despite removing the video, the "truth remains," citing a former IDF general who described Abbas as a partner. Smotrich accused Eizenkot and members of the war cabinet from the Democratic Party of refusing to condemn a recent deadly attack and claimed they intend to establish a Palestinian state and promote a peace agreement with Abbas.