Opposition leaders criticise Netanyahu's AI image of nuclear blast over Tel Aviv before election
Two days before Israel's 27 October election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv with a warning about Iran. Opposition leaders Yair Golan and Gadi Eisenkot accused him of spreading fear.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2On Sunday 25 October 2026, two days before Israel's election on 27 October, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv. The Jerusalem PostRC “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared an AI-generated image depicting a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv on Sunday, just two days before Israel's October 27 election” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Netanyahu posted an artificial intelligence-generated image early Sunday depicting a nuclear explosion in Tel Aviv” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Right · 1The Jerusalem Post says the image was posted on Netanyahu's official Instagram account and shows a mushroom cloud rising over a densely populated city. It adds that the post did not explicitly name the city, though it appeared to show Tel Aviv. The Jerusalem PostRC “The image, posted on Netanyahu's official Instagram account, shows a massive mushroom cloud rising over a densely populated city”“The post did not explicitly identify the city in the image, though it appeared to show Tel Aviv.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2The image came with a warning that Israel faces an existential threat from Iran. Anadolu describes it as a warning about Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and a call to keep confronting Tehran for the rest of US President Donald Trump's term. Anadolu AgencyN “accompanied by a warning about the threat of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and a call to continue confronting Tehran during the remainder of US President Donald Trump's term” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “Netanyahu warned that Israel faced an existential threat from Iran and that the country's security depended on the outcome of Tuesday's election.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1According to the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu said the public should "put aside the disputes and think only about the most important issue: ending the work in Iran." The Jerusalem PostRC “required the public to "put aside the disputes and think only about the most important issue: ending the work in Iran."” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2Democrats party leader Yair Golan wrote on X that the prime minister had published an image of an atomic bomb over Tel Aviv. Golan asked that Netanyahu be kept away from social media, saying Netanyahu and those around them had "lost it" as pressure mounted. The Jerusalem PostRC “"The prime minister of Israel published an image of an atomic bomb over Tel Aviv," Golan wrote. "I ask that he be kept away from social media.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “He called for the Israeli premier to be barred from social media” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Right · 1Golan added: "On Tuesday, we will replace those spreading panic and restore security and sanity to Israel." The Jerusalem PostRC “On Tuesday, we will replace those spreading panic and restore security and sanity to Israel," he added.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Mixed · 2Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief, called the post "another fearmongering video". He accused Netanyahu of hysteria and of using the same "lies and spreading fear" as in earlier campaigns. The Jerusalem PostRC “"Another fearmongering video from Netanyahu," Eisenkot wrote. "You are hysterical.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli army chief and leader of the Yashar party, accused Netanyahu of hysteria” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Mixed · 2Eisenkot said Netanyahu was threatening Israelis with total destruction after failing to achieve the goals of the war in Iran. He said Netanyahu had moved from promising "absolute victory" to the slogan "We will not surrender", and that voters would respond at the ballot box. Anadolu AgencyN ““This time, you are threatening Israeli citizens with total destruction, after failing to achieve the goals of the war in Iran,”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “"You have failed. In two days, the people of Israel will show you that at the ballot box," Eisenkot wrote.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu says the election comes amid tight competition between Netanyahu's camp and opposition parties. It says Netanyahu has built much of his recent campaign around security threats, especially Iran's nuclear programme, and that opposition figures accuse him of exploiting those concerns for political gain. Anadolu AgencyN “amid a tight competition between Netanyahu's political camp and opposition parties seeking to end his rule”“opposition figures have accused him of exploiting those concerns for political gains” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1Anadolu also recalls that Eisenkot earlier called Netanyahu's claim to have destroyed Iranian nuclear bombs "an outright lie", saying Iran "has never possessed nuclear bombs". Eisenkot also told the public broadcaster KAN that no immediate, direct threat justified a military attack on Iran before the election. Anadolu AgencyN “Eisenkot said Netanyahu’s claim that he had destroyed Iranian nuclear bombs and saved Israel was “an outright lie,” adding that “Iran has never possessed nuclear bombs.”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Right · 1The coverage includes no response from Netanyahu or his office to the criticism. The Jerusalem PostRC “prompting criticism from opposition leaders who accused him of attempting to frighten voters ahead of the polls” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Anadolu leads with the opposition accusation that Netanyahu is spreading "terror" and "panic". It places the post within the election race and Netanyahu's security-focused campaign.
- Emphasis
- Eisenkot's earlier remarks that Iran never had nuclear bombs, the tight race, and the description of Netanyahu's government as far-right.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little of Netanyahu's own message beyond a short summary of the warning, and does not mention the Instagram platform.
- Charged language
- “terror”“panic”“most right-wing in Israel's history”
- For example
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“Two Israeli opposition leaders accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday of spreading “terror” and “panic” among Israelis” — Anadolu Agency
“Netanyahu has led a far-right government since late 2022, widely described as the most right-wing in Israel’s history.” — Anadolu Agency
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Jerusalem Post reports the post as a news event, leading with the image and the opposition criticism. It also quotes Netanyahu's own warning at length.
- Emphasis
- The image on Instagram, the existential-threat message, and the Golan and Eisenkot reactions, with their tweets embedded.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the wider campaign context, such as the tight race and Eisenkot's earlier statements on Iran.
- Charged language
- “fearmongering”“existential danger”
- For example
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“prompting criticism from opposition leaders who accused him of attempting to frighten voters ahead of the polls” — The Jerusalem Post
“Netanyahu warned that Israel faced an existential threat from Iran and that the country's security depended on the outcome of Tuesday's election.” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Netanyahu posted an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv on Sunday 25 October 2026, two days before the 27 October election.
- The post warned of the threat from Iran.
- Yair Golan and Gadi Eisenkot criticised the post on X.
- Golan asked that Netanyahu be kept off social media and said Tuesday's vote would replace those spreading panic.
- Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of fear tactics and of failing to achieve the war aims against Iran.
Where accounts differ
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What the post amounts to
- Centre
- Anadolu reports opposition accusations that Netanyahu is spreading "terror" and "panic" and exploiting Iran concerns for political gain.
- Right
- The Jerusalem Post reports opposition claims that Netanyahu was trying to frighten voters. It also gives Netanyahu's own framing of an existential Iranian threat that should override political disputes.
Benjamin Netanyahu person
Netanyahu presented Iran as an existential threat and urged the public to put aside disputes and focus on ending the work in Iran.
“required the public to "put aside the disputes and think only about the most important issue: ending the work in Iran."” — The Jerusalem Post
Yair Golan person
Golan, who leads the Democrats, said Netanyahu and those around them had lost it, asked that Netanyahu be kept off social media, and promised to replace those spreading panic.
“"The prime minister of Israel published an image of an atomic bomb over Tel Aviv," Golan wrote.” — The Jerusalem Post
Gadi Eisenkot person
Eisenkot, who leads Yashar, called the post fearmongering and said Netanyahu had failed to achieve the war aims against Iran.
“"Another fearmongering video from Netanyahu," Eisenkot wrote.” — The Jerusalem Post
““This time, you are threatening Israeli citizens with total destruction, after failing to achieve the goals of the war in Iran,”” — Anadolu Agency
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Israeli opposition leaders accuse Netanyahu of spreading ‘terror, panic’ ahead of election
Mixed Leads with the opposition accusation of spreading terror and panic and adds background critical of Netanyahu, including Eisenkot's earlier rebuttal and a description of the government as far-right.
Right1 article
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Netanyahu shares AI-generated image of nuclear explosion in Tel Aviv, two days before election
Neutral Straight news report that sets out the image, Netanyahu's Iran warning and the two opposition responses, with embedded posts.
- 25 Oct 14:32 First The Jerusalem PostRC Netanyahu shares AI-generated image of nuclear explosion in Tel Aviv, two days before election
- 25 Oct 19:08 +4h 36m Anadolu AgencyN Israeli opposition leaders accuse Netanyahu of spreading ‘terror, panic’ ahead of election
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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