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How Iran interferes in Israel’s election campaign

The Israeli press published a report last week claiming that the cell phone of Blue and White leader Benny Gantz was hacked by Iran. Now it seems that former Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s cell phone was also targeted by Iranian intelligence.
Part of a campaign poster of Benny Gantz, a former Israeli armed forces chief and the head of a new political party, Israel Resilience, is seen in Jerusalem, January 29, 2019 REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC14E2E1BA00
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In the middle of December 2018, two senior members of the Shin Bet brought the following news to the office of former Lt. Gen. Chief of Staff (COS) and now head of the Blue and White party Benny Gantz: Hostile agents had hacked Gantz’ cellular phone and acquired sensitive information that could embarrass him. Gantz’ intentions of entering politics were only made known a short time before, in September 2018.

On Dec. 21, a short piece in the Ma’ariv newspaper announced a “cyber breach” in Gantz’ office but offered no further details. On Dec. 27, Gantz himself announced the establishment of the Israel Resilience party and his intention to run for the premiership. A few more days passed, and on Jan. 8 of this year, Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman announced in a Tel Aviv University convention that “a foreign power” would try to meddle in Israel’s elections via cyber technology. Argaman was clear and incisive. He said he had no idea which party would be favored by said foreign power. However, he added, “I know what I’m talking about.”

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