Israeli 2026 Election Campaigns Embrace AI Amid Calls for Regulation and Transparency

The 2026 Israeli election campaign marks a new era in political communication, with artificial intelligence becoming a central tool for parties. Unlike previous elections that relied on billboards, ads, and online videos, AI now enables rapid creation of videos, images, voiceovers, and persuasive content, blurring the line between reality and digital fabrication. A recent AI-generated video by the Likud party featuring Gadi Eisenkot sparked controversy, highlighting the broader phenomenon of AI's growing role in political messaging.

Media strategist Moran Shmueloff examines both the opportunities and risks AI presents to democratic discourse. While AI can serve the public by enhancing communication, it also risks shaping perceptions and obscuring facts. Given the rapid pace of technological advancement, she stresses the need for responsibility to keep up. Israel has already implemented mandatory labeling for election propaganda created or edited with AI, and public and legal debates continue over the need for broader regulation.

In related developments, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed Smotrich to remove an AI video involving Eisenkot and Abu Mazen. Shmueloff suggests the next step should be mandatory legal and media review of all AI-based political campaigns before release. This would not restrict political criticism but ensure accountability, transparency, and public trust. In the AI era, the crucial question is not just what can be created, but what should be published.