A new report by FakeReporter, an Israeli disinformation watchdog group, revealed a network of fake accounts on X impersonating Chareidim and working to deepen polarization within Israeli society.

The accounts, which present themselves as members of the Chareidi sector, disseminate extreme content including incitement and calls for violence against secular Israelis, left-wing activists, and the judicial system. Analysis of their activity indicates that the profiles are operated by foreign actors aiming to provoke public outrage and increase hostility toward the Chareidi community by creating a false impression of extremism.

One quote that drew particular attention—“throw the secular out of Israel”—was not presented as an isolated outburst, but as part of a broader pattern. According to Ynet, other messages included statements such as “leftists are enemies of Torah and Judaism” and “the courts are servants of Satan.” The goal, the report suggests, was not persuasion but to provoke disgust, anger, and backlash against the Chareidi sector as a whole.

The investigation identified at least four suspicious accounts active on X over the past six months, using names like “Chaim Alush,” “Shimon,” and two users named “Yaakov.” All were created in November 2025, used VPNs to obscure their origins, and maintained activity that initially appeared fairly authentic. This is what makes the operation especially concerning: the Hebrew used was relatively fluent and worded to seem credible rather than easily dismissible.

To build that credibility, the accounts did more than post slogans. According to the report, they copied content from real Israeli users—including posts by known Israeli figures. This created a seemingly legitimate façade, within which more extreme messages were inserted. It was not amateur provocation, but a method: blend in first, then escalate, and finally rely on someone in Israel to take the bait and amplify it.

The sophistication extended beyond content. Despite having relatively few followers, the accounts gained wide exposure by replying to posts from journalists, influencers, and prominent public figures. This is how effective influence networks operate: they don’t need a large audience of their own—only access to others’ audiences, inserting inflammatory messaging at the right moment.

The choice of topics was also deliberate. According to the findings, the network focused on issues that already inflame Israeli discourse, including the draft law, Chareidi protests, the judicial system, and support for Binyamin Netanyahu. These are precisely the areas where the line between political debate and incitement becomes blurred—and where it is easiest to convince the public they are seeing the “true face” of an entire sector, when in reality they are being exposed to a coordinated influence operation.

At FakeReporter, officials warn that this is not just about damaging the image of the Chareidi community, but about directly undermining Israel’s social resilience. CEO Nir Rosen said the network is not operated by Israelis and is intended to incite hatred toward the Chareidi public and deepen internal divisions. According to him, as elections approach, such attempts are likely to intensify.

This exposure joins the identification of additional foreign influence networks that have been active in Israel since the beginning of the war, some of which have managed to mislead influencers and public figures who inadvertently amplified their divisive messages.

The public is urged to remain vigilant, verify the sources of online content, and report suspicious accounts to prevent foreign propaganda from shaping the public discourse in Israel.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)