A far-right influencer ignites polarization ahead of Israel's elections

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Extremist right-wing activist Mordechai David (27 years old) stands out as one of the most prominent faces of the escalation of political discourse in Israel, by setting up photographic ambushes of figures perceived as left-wing and publishing them on social media platforms, less than 3 weeks before the legislative elections scheduled for October 27.

David is intensifying his activity ahead of these elections, which are expected to be a referendum on the performance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, which is considered the most right-wing in the history of the Hebrew state. He picks up his phone like someone brandishing a weapon, then tracks down leftists or those he considers “unpatriotic,” reprimands them publicly, and posts that on his accounts, receiving great interaction from his 150,000 followers.

In one of his clips, David targeted the parents of the director of the documentary “Naza,” which accuses the Israeli army of deliberately killing civilians during the war in Gaza. He chanted through a loudspeaker as dozens of demonstrators gathered in front of the home of Rachel Tzur, who co-directed the film with Yuval Abraham.

The list of those targeted also included Lucy Harish, an Israeli Arab who was the first Muslim broadcaster to appear on a Hebrew-language channel, and Aharon Barak, the 90-year-old former president of the Supreme Court. David said about the latter that “advancement in age does not give you immunity,” accusing the retired judge of “controlling the State of Israel.” This position is consistent with Netanyahu's campaign against the judiciary, at a time when the Prime Minister is facing prosecution on suspicion of corruption.

“Social media can be more powerful than television,” David said in an interview with Agence France-Presse, noting that clips he posted in one week received “more than a million views.”

As is happening in many countries, an increasing number of Israelis, especially young people, are turning away from traditional media and turning to influencers on social media platforms who promote controversial slogans.

Israel witnessed 5 elections between 2019 and 2022, and the next voting cycle will be the first since the events of October 7 and the war on Gaza, and Israel is moving toward it in light of a sharp political and social division.

Achia Shatz, founder of the Vic Reporter research group that monitors online discussions, believes that David embodies “the level of polarization in Israeli society and how hostility has become” normal. He considered that the influencer turns this tendency among some right-wing supporters “into political expression and material for entertainment.”

David faced complaints that his video clips amounted to harassment, but his actions made him a favorite guest on Channel 14, which is close to the ruling coalition.

He has a close relationship with the far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, whom he included in his election campaign team, and they worked together to film content that contributed to building a fan base for the minister among young voters.

David began his activity by confronting the popular movement opposing the judicial reform plan proposed by Netanyahu with the aim of reducing the independence of judges, before the October 7 attack and the Gaza war. Following the attack, he became famous for his provocative participation in demonstrations calling for the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, as he denounced his citizens who called for an early end to the war to ensure the return of the kidnapped. Schatz says that David has proven that he has a "sense of showmanship and attracting attention."

In mid-September, days before Rosh Hashanah, David attempted to organize a prayer service separating men and women in a Tel Aviv square. Segregation of the sexes is a common practice among many ultra-Orthodox Jews, but it is prohibited in public places.

Only about 20 men participated in the event. When the police intervened to remove the separation barriers, a small altercation occurred during which the men booed. But David posted a video that had been edited to show that there had been a major problem.

“It only takes a few people to create an event that will generate dozens of videos, hundreds of posts, TV coverage, and days of political debate,” Schatz says. He adds: "The actual event on the ground is only a background to the scene. The real audience exists on the Internet."