Supreme Court Orders Gadi Eizenkot to Remove AI-Generated IDF Soldiers from Election Video

Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg ruled that a campaign video released by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and his party, Yashar LeIsrael Im Eizenkot, must be removed from all social media accounts. The decision came after the Likud party filed a petition against the video, which featured AI-generated images of IDF soldiers in uniform. Justice Solberg determined that using AI-created soldiers in military uniforms for political campaigning constitutes improper use of public assets and violates election law.

The judge rejected the defense's argument that AI-generated content is freely accessible and does not constitute misuse of public resources. He emphasized that the legal standards applied to real soldiers in uniform also apply to digital representations. The ruling highlighted that the extensive use of IDF uniforms in the video undermines the purpose of election law provisions designed to prevent political exploitation of public symbols and to maintain the IDF's apolitical image.

The video, published on July 10, 2026, showed Eizenkot walking and presenting his political platform against backgrounds including landscapes, combat scenes, military ceremonies, and digitally created soldiers. Likud argued that the video exploited the official status of the IDF, while Eizenkot's legal team denied any legal violation and claimed procedural delays in filing the petition. These procedural claims were dismissed by Justice Solberg, who also ordered Eizenkot and his party to pay 5,000 shekels in legal fees to Likud.

This ruling sets a precedent regarding the use of AI technology in political campaigns, particularly concerning the portrayal of military symbols and personnel. It underscores the legal protections around public assets and the importance of preserving the IDF's nonpartisan standing during elections.