Israeli Election Campaigns Use Arabs as Political Pawns

In the lead-up to Israel's parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 27, 2026, a comprehensive analysis of 10,867 tweets has revealed how prominent candidates utilized Arabs and Palestinians in their campaigns, either to instill fear in voters, incite against these groups, or make promises impacting their lands and rights. The investigation, conducted by 'Arabi Post', monitored the use of artificial intelligence in generating content that portrayed Arabs negatively or used their figures to attack opponents or instill fear.

The analysis covered 2,638 original and retweeted posts by 10 candidates and the Likud party's account on the 'X' platform, from the dissolution of the Knesset on July 17, 2026, until October 14, 2026. The accounts included right-wing figures such as Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud party, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Betzalel Smotrich, Moshe Feiglin, and opposition figures including Avigdor Liberman, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Golan, and Benny Gantz, who withdrew from the race on October 19, 2026, but whose tweets remained in the analysis. Liberman was categorized as opposition based on his electoral stance, not political leanings.

The analysis also included 8,229 tweets posted between September 15 and October 15, 2026, collected from user responses to various candidates' accounts and searches related to Arabs, Palestinians, and the elections. The findings showed that Arabs were either directly or indirectly the subject of 40% of right-wing election tweets, compared to 13% from the opposition, roughly three times as much. Additionally, 94% of right-wing tweets about Arabs contained hostile rhetoric, compared to 49% from the opposition. The promises made included deporting Palestinians, expanding settlements, taking measures affecting lands and rights, and excluding Arab parties from governance, all of which were categorized as highly inflammatory by the right-wing camp.

Context: This analysis highlights the strategic use of social media and artificial intelligence in political campaigns, raising concerns about the manipulation of public opinion and the potential impact on inter-communal relations in Israel. The findings underscore the need for heightened scrutiny and regulation of political discourse, particularly in the context of elections, to ensure fair and responsible campaigning.