A new opinion poll, published today (Friday), showed another loss in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's standing due to a video he released against his rival Gadi Eisenkot, which used Eisenkot's son who fell in the war. The video cost him two additional seats, which went to Eisenkot's tally. Commenting on this, writer Sima Kadmon said in an editorial for Yedioth Ahronoth: "The public can no longer tolerate a prime minister without a heart or humanity."

The writer warned that "such vile propaganda is usually used in the final days of the election campaign. If Netanyahu decided to use it at the start of the campaign, it signals that this election campaign will be more violent than ever, taking on ugly, inhuman, and more dangerous forms for society."

Netanyahu during a Knesset session on July 16, 2026 (AFP)

The media team of the ruling Likud party had published an AI-generated video attacking the leading candidate for prime minister, Gadi Eisenkot, portraying him as lacking fatherhood and ethics. This provoked angry reactions on social media, backfiring against Netanyahu and Likud. It was removed within 24 hours and replaced with another video.

The story of the first video is that it shows Eisenkot with a kind face running forward with open arms to embrace a loved one, under the slogan of national unity. The video also shows a handsome young Jewish man, Eisenkot's son, who was killed early in the Gaza war, also greeting his father with open arms. But when Eisenkot reaches him, he does not hug him but moves on to embrace someone else - and lo and behold, that person is Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List.

Benjamin Netanyahu offers condolences to Gadi Eisenkot over the death of his son during the Gaza battles on December 8, 2023 (AP)

The video creators intended to exploit the sharply anti-Arab sentiment in the Israeli public, especially after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and to portray Eisenkot as someone who would go to any lengths to form a left-wing government backed by an Arab party. They consider any inclusion of Arabs in government as akin to treason. Eisenkot dismissed the video as trivial and refused to comment. However, public reactions were more severe. Experts described the video as lacking values and ethics, taking an unprecedented level of harshness and violence, merciless. It shows its creators as not hesitating to use war dead - "who died defending Israel and Israelis" - for party propaganda.

Mothers of several fallen soldiers harshly criticized Netanyahu for this ghastly use of the dead. Einav Tenzisvakar, whose son was held captive by Hamas for two years, said: "Netanyahu's son has been hanging out in Miami for three years while he uses fighters who sacrificed their lives for his election campaign."

Former Israeli minister Gadi Eisenkot during a demonstration in Tel Aviv (archive - Reuters)

Netanyahu tried to correct the bad impression by releasing another video, replacing the young man with a girl, but the video had already spread widely and the damage was done.

Some election advertising experts said that Likud, by this vile act, actually served Eisenkot's campaign. He is a grieving father who lost his son and two of his nephews in that war. This brings people closer to him, not pushes them away as Likud believes. Journalist Avi Binyahu addressed Netanyahu: "Know that this vileness will cause you severe harm. You are the one who loses."

Indeed, Maariv published its weekly opinion poll results today (Friday), showing that this video cost Netanyahu two seats. Likud won 20 seats, its lowest result in over a year. In contrast, Eisenkot's party gained two additional seats, reaching 23, its highest result since he decided to run. Moreover, the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu dropped from its current 68 seats to 49 (a 28% loss), while the anti-Netanyahu camp won 61 seats, not counting the Arab parties, which maintain their current strength of ten seats.

In response to the newspaper's question, 46% of respondents said Eisenkot is the most suitable political figure to serve as prime minister, compared to 40% who chose Netanyahu. Even Naftali Bennett beat Netanyahu this time, with 45% saying he is more suitable than Netanyahu. In a direct contest between Eisenkot and Bennett, 38% said Eisenkot is more suitable for prime minister, compared to 23% who chose Bennett.

"); googletag.cmd.push(function() { onDvtagReady(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-3341368-4'); }); }); }]