A network of social media accounts linked in 2025 to an Israeli influence campaign against the Iranian regime now appears to be promoting election content in favour of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an investigation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Two watchdog organisations have identified more than 1,000 suspicious accounts and petitioned Israel’s Central Elections Committee. The findings emerge days before Israel’s parliamentary elections on 27 October.
Activity concentrated on X
According to Haaretz, the activity is concentrated mainly on X. There, dozens of accounts share messages favouring Netanyahu while also posting content critical of his political rivals.
Some of the posts are written in Hebrew and include direct calls on voters to support the prime minister, the report said.
From Iran campaign to election messaging
Haaretz reported that the profiles had been identified last year as part of an online campaign promoting the overthrow of the Iranian regime. The Times of Israel, relaying the report, said the accounts had been “revealed last year to be part of an Israeli influence campaign.”
As the election approaches, several of the same accounts have shifted their focus to Israel’s domestic political scene, according to the report.
Petition to the Central Elections Committee
The Brandeis Institute and the watchdog organisation FakeReporter, both of which monitor disinformation and online influence operations, have petitioned Israel’s Central Elections Committee. They have asked it to examine the activity of the accounts.
Researchers from the two organisations say they have identified more than 1,000 suspicious accounts that have moved from spreading messages against the Iranian leadership to promoting content in favour of Netanyahu.
No established link to the Netanyahu campaign
The reports do not establish that Netanyahu’s election campaign is connected to the operation of the accounts, or that the prime minister is aware of the activity.
No response from Netanyahu, his office or the Likud party was included in the reports.
With information from Haaretz and The Times of Israel
