MK Claims: Activist Shefi Paz May Join Otzma Yehudit Party

Knesset member Gilad Kariv of the Democrats party harshly criticized social activist Shefi Paz today (Wednesday) following an AI-generated video she published against illegal migrants in south Tel Aviv. Kariv suggested that the video might be related to her desire to integrate into the Otzma Yehudit party in the future. Kariv did not present evidence that Paz is indeed conducting political negotiations with the party, phrasing the remarks as his own assessment.

As reported this week, the video that sparked a storm shows clips created using artificial intelligence in which migrants are collected from public spaces using the mechanical arm of a garbage truck and thrown into it. Later, they are seen being unloaded on the beach and put onto rafts and rubber boats that are sent out to sea. At the end of the video, the message appeared: "All of them, now."

Kariv responded to the video in a sharp post on the X network and clarified that he chose not to share it:

"Shefi Paz uploaded a cursed and terrible video in which people are thrown into trash cans and viewed as waste. It is one of the most sickening displays ever distributed on Hebrew-language networks."

The Knesset member compared the images presented in the video to racist propaganda directed against Jews throughout history. Afterwards, he raised a political claim against Paz:

"This video smells like a move by Paz to get a spot in Otzma Yehudit, a racist and nationalist party that has done nothing for the neighborhoods of south Tel Aviv. Whether there is a political move here or not, it is a moral, Jewish, and Israeli filth. We must not get used to this. We must stand against it, in words and in deeds."

Paz, for her part, responded to the criticism and clarified that she is not retracting the message. According to her, the images of reality used to create the AI video were filmed on the streets by residents, and the harsh effect was intentional:

"The video is supposed to shock. My goal is to highlight the reality that the residents of south Tel Aviv neighborhoods are dealing with."

In a direct reference to Kariv's criticism, she wrote: "Imagine that it wasn't about drugged migrants because of whom little girls are afraid to go to kindergarten, but about the 'hilltop youth.' I am sure your conscience would find it easier. And by the way, this video came out on Saturday night. Why did it take you so long?"