Critics accuse Netanyahu of mocking Eisenkot’s slain son in AI-generated ad

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked outrage after sharing an AI-generated campaign ad on Tuesday that many critics believe mocks the slain son of his political rival, Gadi Eisenkot. The ad depicted Eisenkot rejecting an embrace from a young man wearing a T-shirt reading “Israeli unity,” in favor of Mansour Abbas of the Arab party Ra’am. The message displayed alongside the clip read: “Eisenkot has no government without [Democrats party chair] Yair Golan and the Arab parties.” The ad quickly drew sharp criticism, with journalists Guy Peleg and Barak Seri among those accusing Netanyahu of indirectly referencing Eisenkot’s son, Gal, who died in combat in Gaza in December 2023. Gal Eisenkot, the eldest son of Gadi Eisenkot, was killed while serving in the Israeli military during the Gaza conflict. Two of Eisenkot’s other nephews were also killed in the same war. The ad’s depiction of the young man, who bears a striking resemblance in age to Gal, and the idyllic floral backdrop, which critics interpreted as suggesting a heavenly setting, led to accusations of insensitivity. Some viewed the ad as a deliberate attempt to mock the memory of a fallen soldier, drawing comparisons to the broader controversy surrounding Netanyahu’s handling of wartime casualties. In response to the backlash, Likud, Netanyahu’s ruling party, dismissed the allegations, stating that the ad was meant to highlight the necessity of alliances with certain political factions. A statement from the party claimed that the figure in the video was not intended to represent Eisenkot’s son, insisting that the focus remained on the need for collaboration with Yair Golan and the Arab parties. Later that day, Netanyahu’s senior aide, Jonatan Urich, posted a revised version of the ad, replacing the male figure with a woman wearing the “Israeli unity” shirt. Urich added a caption to the post, stating, “To remove any doubt,” indicating an attempt to distance the ad from its perceived implications. Yashar, Eisenkot’s political party, retaliated by releasing a supercut video showcasing instances where members of Netanyahu’s Likud faction had previously supported Mansour Abbas, the leader of the Arab party Ra’am. The compilation included footage of Amichai Chikli, now the Diaspora Minister, expressing admiration for Abbas’s moderate stance and willingness to collaborate. It also featured Yariv Levin, the current Justice Minister, praising Abbas in the Knesset, and Miki Zohar, the Culture Minister, stating he was “not opposed” to including Abbas in a coalition. The video concluded with the message: “Netanyahu has no government without the non-Zionist parties.” Mansour Abbas, whose support Netanyahu once sought in forming a government, was part of the brief Bennett-Lapid coalition that temporarily displaced Netanyahu from power. Despite repeated invitations to join the government, Abbas remained outside the cabinet, eventually joining the current administration under Netanyahu. The Yashar ad highlighted the growing tension between Netanyahu’s nationalist policies and the inclusion of non-Zionist parties, a point that resonates with voters disillusioned by the prime minister’s leadership. As the political battle intensifies ahead of the October 27 election, the fallout from the ad underscores the deepening divisions within Israeli politics. With recent polls showing Yashar potentially surpassing Likud in parliamentary seats, the contest for power is becoming increasingly bitter. The incident reflects the high stakes of the upcoming vote, where personal attacks and strategic maneuvering are shaping public perception as much as policy debates.