Tel Aviv, Israel – Israeli security officials consider Iranian interference in the upcoming elections almost certain, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported Tuesday. The paper indicated that Tehran is seeking to exploit the atmosphere of internal tension to destabilize Israel’s political situation.
The newspaper explained that Iran operates a vast network of fake accounts on social media platforms. This network aims to spread disinformation and incite divisions between Jewish and Arab voters.
According to the newspaper report, Israeli authorities expect Iran to follow three stages to influence the elections: Pre-election: attempting to disrupt internal consensus.
Election day: Spreading fake news and online activities to disrupt the electoral process.
After the elections: Questioning the results to undermine the legitimacy of the democratic process.
Israel Hayom added that Tehran will rely on experience gained from its interference in the 2020 US elections, as well as artificial intelligence tools to enhance the credibility of fake accounts.
The newspaper also confirmed that special units within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are overseeing these operations, and that some preparations have already begun.
The report concluded by emphasizing that Iran’s ability to disrupt elections is real and growing, urging Israeli authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering and monitoring of the digital sphere to prevent any foreign interference.
