A few days ago, the New York Times reported that Israel is using fake social media accounts to target US lawmakers – the very people making direct decisions on funding their military. Yet there’s barely been a murmur about the story in the UK corporate media.
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs has spent around $2m on the operation so far. The company responsibly for the campaign is Stoic, a Tel Aviv political marketing campaign:
Operation Ultimate Grift: So Israel hired an Israeli company, Stoic, to create fake accounts of pretend Americans to post pro-Israel content urging American Democratic & African-American lawmakers like @RepJeffries (already on @aipac dole) to gift Israel more weapons.
Await US…
— Sarah Leah Whitson (@sarahleah1) June 5, 2024
Israeli grifters “used hundreds of fake accounts that posed as real Americans on X, Facebook & Instagram to post pro-Israel comments.. focused on US lawmakers, particularly ones who are Black & Democrats, such as @RepJeffries & @SenatorWarnock w posts urging them to continue…
— Sarah Leah Whitson (@sarahleah1) June 5, 2024
Russian interference
Last year, the BBC uncovered a similar Russian operation involving 12,800 fake TikTok accounts:
A vast Russian influence operation on TikTok involving 12,800 fake accounts spreading disinformation about the war in Ukraine to millions of users in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Israel and Ukraine, has been uncovered by BBC Verify and @DFRLab.https://t.co/cDkxx0Tq3W
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) December 15, 2023
According to the New York Times:
The campaign also created three fake English-language news sites featuring pro-Israel articles.
People were quick to point out that the playbook was very similar to that of Russia in 2016. Trump used the same tactics to get into office:
This is just like the Russian playbook of 2016 used to get Trump in office. Only this time fake accounts and posts are generated by Israel to put candidates in office who will keep the arms and money flowing https://t.co/8J2j7aPq01
— miscellany101 (@miscellany101) June 7, 2024
Russia targeted voter registration systems, stole voters personal information and hacked various campaigns – including Clinton’s. They also spread huge amounts of propaganda on social media.
It took until 2018 to prove all of those accusations, which people suspected as far back as 2015. Now a UK election is imminent and a US one isn’t far behind and it seems people are already suspicious about potential interference from Israel:
Should probably investigate Israeli interference in our elections, no? Seems like a big deal.
— impp (@superimpp) June 5, 2024
Russia proved it was possible, and Israel’s track record of human rights abuses plus their technological advancements mean that we should all be suspicious.
UK election interference
On Wednesday 5 June, the Workers Party London region tweeted the following.
A Labour Supporter by the name of Steve Cooke is launching a barrage of tweets to defame Workers Party candidates and members. He is using fake foreign accounts from Israel. Can Electoral Commission (@ElectoralCommUK) take an action. This is direct intervention in our democracy. pic.twitter.com/ejbz2f7PV0
— Workers Party – London Region (@WPB_London) June 5, 2024
It is also important to note that this persons activities appear to be supported by Hasbara programme bot farms out of Israel and elsewhere, which indicates state level support.
This is not simply “beef”, this is Israeli state interference in a British general election.
— Behind Labour (@behind_labour) June 7, 2024
Someone else noted, that the account was linked with the Israel Hasbara programme – a mass messaging technique long used by the state. According to TRT World:
To accomplish its mission, hasbara targets diplomats, politicians and the public through mass media. It is also accomplished through numerous institutes and government agencies, as well as in research centres, universities, NGOs and lobbying firms.
Other people pointed out that it has far more influence on Western politics than Russia:
I think if you are truly concerned about foreign election interference, which is an important topic, you should be focused on Israel, not Russia.
Israel has magnitudes of order more influence over our politics and elections then Russia.
— KT (@kthomas96953034) June 6, 2024
Many staunch pro-Labour X accounts have also been linked to Israel:
This morning I noticed something very strange on Twitter on checking people’s bios (before blocking them). A LOT of Labour supporters accounts either carry the Israeli flag or are posting from Israel, very strange indeed, have we got foreign interference in a UK election?
— @Camz99 (@Camz99) May 24, 2024
In the UK, both the Conservatives and Labour have lobby groups named ‘Friends of Israel’. These groups alone lobby. Both of these groups aim to strengthen business, cultural, and political ties between the United Kingdom and Israel.
Conservative Friends of Israel receives funds from powerful Zionist organisations in Jerusalem. Labour Friends of Israel refuses to disclose its funding. That’s a little bit sus – at least the Tories are honest about it:
When does the Zionist election interference stop…?
US : AIPAC
UK : Friends of IsraelAll political parties are infected.
Taxpayers pay tax to Gov…
Gov sends “aid” to Israel…
Israel funds Lobby groups…
Lobby groups “donate” to Politicians…!https://t.co/xLuyiAiFyO— james dennis (@jamesdennisuk) March 4, 2024
Israel: going to any lengths
Given the extend of the fake accounts created by Israel, who’s to say they are not targeting UK lawmakers in exactly the same way that they are in the US? Israel has made it clear they will go to any lengths to sway public opinion – legal or not. So why would they stop at interfering in the UK?
In the run up to such an important election, why are none of the British corporate media outlets reporting on it?
Feature image via Number 10/Chris McAndrew /Wikimedia
