Israeli singer Ofer Levi, 62, was questioned by police Tuesday on suspicion of incitement to violence after a video circulated online featuring alleged calls to execute left-wing voters and take the law into one's own hands. Levi denied making the statements, claiming the video had been manipulated using artificial intelligence.
Levi, a resident of Holon, was summoned to the city's police station for questioning and released under restrictive conditions afterward.
Israeli singer Ofer Levi
(Photo: Amir Meiri)
The investigation was launched after police received a report about the video, in which a person allegedly makes statements inciting violence, including "Execute left-wing voters," "We'll take the law into our own hands" and "Anyone who supports the left should know they are a terrorist in every sense."
Following the video's circulation, Levi publicly denied the allegations and insisted that the footage had been altered using AI technology.
"For the past few days, a video has been circulating in which I supposedly call for citizens to be executed because of their political views," he wrote on social media. "It is important to emphasize that the video was edited using AI tools. Anyone who publishes it is exposing themselves to a lawsuit."
Police investigators sought authorization from the State Attorney's Office to open an investigation into the suspected incitement. After receiving the necessary approval, officers from Holon Police Station, part of the Ayalon police district, located Levi and summoned him for questioning.
Following the investigation, police decided to release him under restrictive conditions. The nature of those conditions was not specified.
Police said they take incidents involving incitement to violence and threats seriously and would act against anyone attempting to undermine public safety and security, including through social media.