The Israeli watchdog group Big Bots Project has exposed a network of hundreds of fake accounts used to boost Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his Likud party ahead of national elections next week, according to a report in the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot. The network is said to have reposted Likud campaign ads on social media and smeared Netanyahu’s political rivals. Although Big Bots Project did not find a direct link between the network and the prime minister or any Likud member, the report stated that the accounts “appeared to operate in coordination with the party and Mr. Netanyahu’s re-election campaign.” The accounts, according to the report, became active after the announcement of elections in December and sent out thousands of tweets each day at “climactic moments for Netanyahu, such as the announcement of the indictment against him.” Likud’s main rival, the Blue and White party, responded by accusing Netanyahu of “stealing” the election and called for an immediate police investigation.