Religious Zionism Removes Then Republishes AI-Generated Video of Gadi Eizenkot After Election Committee Ruling

The Religious Zionism party removed a propaganda video created partly with artificial intelligence (AI) following a ruling by the chairman of the Israeli Election Committee, Judge Noam Solberg. The video depicted Gadi Eizenkot, leader of the Yisrael party, shaking hands with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Joint List MK Mansour Abbas, suggesting a false political connection. Solberg ordered the removal after determining the video presented a fabricated event in a realistic manner, potentially misleading voters and violating election law prohibiting unfair interference in election campaigns.

The decision followed petitions from the Yisrael party and the NGO "Choosing Israel," which argued that the video, posted by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Facebook, could deceive viewers by implying a political alliance between Eizenkot and Mansour Abbas. Although the video included a caption stating it was AI-generated, Solberg ruled the disclosure insufficient because it was not clearly visible to users, failing to prevent potential deception.

After removing the video, the Religious Zionism party immediately republished it with a clearer tag indicating the images were AI-generated. However, the audio in the background, featuring Yisrael party leader Naftali Bennett discussing the definition of Areas A and B under Palestinian autonomy, was authentic. The case highlights ongoing concerns about AI's role in political propaganda and the need for transparent labeling to avoid misleading the public during elections.