A shock revelation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz concerns Israel's involvement in the 2023 Greek elections, when New Democracy (ND) and Kyriakos Mitsotakis received 41%. At the center of the case is Stavros Papastavrou, who acted as the main point of contact between Greek officials and foreign consultants, without being directly involved in the campaign or online influence techniques.
The Israeli team included former Israeli security officials and online campaign experts who met with the Greek side discreetly, aiming to exchange advice and behind-the-scenes strategies. All this occurred while the Predator wiretapping scandal was raging in Greece.
The case gains additional weight within the context of recent Israeli political developments, as Moti Sander, a former close associate of President Isaac Herzog, has claimed he can reveal details about similar behind-the-scenes connections, especially in view of a potential pardon for Benjamin Netanyahu. The Haaretz report outlines a circle of informal contacts and processes showing how clandestine influence networks operated, both internationally and in the relations between Israeli consultants and Greek government officials.
According to the report, Israeli President Isaac Herzog helped his then-close confidant, Moti Sander, secure work on ND's election campaign. For many years, Sander operated behind the scenes as Herzog's advisor on political and communication issues and, after the 2015 elections in which Herzog was defeated by Benjamin Netanyahu, he even acted as a mediator in an attempt to form a national unity government between Herzog and the Prime Minister. "The relationship between Herzog and Sander was very close," a person familiar with both told Haaretz.
The pardon of Netanyahu
Relations between the two deteriorated a few months ago. As Haaretz previously reported, Sander recently sent threatening messages to the Presidential Office: If Herzog granted Netanyahu an unconditional pardon under "surrender terms," Sander warned he would reveal everything he knows about Herzog, including alleged previous understandings between Herzog and Netanyahu regarding the pardon. The President categorically denies any agreement to grant Netanyahu a pardon in exchange for support of his presidential candidacy in 2021 and states he never assigned Sander a role in mediation or message delivery.
The Presidential Mansion responded sharply to the former confidant's claims, stating that "due to the sensitive personal situation of the individual involved, the President will not refer to these matters." In recent months, discussions took place regarding the rift between associates of both sides, including conversations between the President's wife, Michal Herzog, and a close relative of Sander.
Sources from Israel's political system told Haaretz that Herzog and Sander were exceptionally close friends. "They met every week and talked almost every day, several times a day," said a person who knew them. "Herzog consulted Sander on political or communication moves without pay and asked him to act on his behalf with journalists he had contacts with. Herzog also relied on him to convey messages to political figures, such as Netanyahu's former confidant, Natan Eshel, who is close to Sander, and generally trusted his instincts." Another source mentioned that Sander, who was also active in the Judaica market, bought family-related items for Herzog, which Herzog paid for.
Israel's "mechanism" in Greece
The close relationship between Herzog and Sander is also reflected in events preceding the Greek elections. Sander, an entrepreneur who had tried his hand in various sectors, formed a team of professionals aimed at conducting international election campaigns. Along with two former members of the security apparatus specializing in online influence operations, the team included Israel "Srulik" Einhorn, a former Netanyahu advisor who was later involved in the "Bibileaks" and Qatargate scandals. Sander prepared a brochure to promote the team and presented it to Herzog. The President, in turn, promoted the group led by his friend.
In late 2022, on the eve of the Greek parliamentary elections, Herzog approached Sander and asked him to get in touch with Stavros Papastavrou of ND. As a result, Israeli consultants met with their Greek counterparts. "All contact was carried out discreetly," a diplomatic source familiar with the matter told Haaretz. "The Greeks were cautious about being identified with Israel because the Greek 'Watergate' scandal had broken out shortly before." In the months leading up to the connection, investigations in the Greek media mentioned government relations with Israeli offensive cyber-technology companies, which allegedly helped monitor the phones of the government's political opponents, including top politicians and journalists. In this context, in August 2022, the head of the Greek intelligence service and the director of the office of the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, resigned.
The Israeli political handlers traveled to Greece several times for the campaign. Einhorn participated in two meetings related to it. "He presented a presentation for the company Perception and was paid in some way," reported a person with knowledge of the matter. Another source said Einhorn participated in campaign preparation meetings alongside senior advisors to the Greek Prime Minister, but not in the campaign itself. The contribution of the Israelis focused primarily on online influence. ND bolstered its election percentages but did not secure the required majority for victory in the first round. It won the second round, and Kyriakos Mitsotakis formed a government once again. Stavros Papastavrou was appointed Minister of Environment and Energy. Throughout the pre-election period, Herzog was periodically informed by his friend about developments.
The Israeli Presidential Office denies the report
According to a report by the website Shomrim, Herzog also recommended Sander to a Romanian politician ahead of the country's 2024 elections. "Generally, he tried to help Sander wherever he could," said a person familiar with their relationship. "There were moments of tension between them, for example, when Herzog did not include Sander in his delegation during a state visit to Greece with the local leadership, where Sander has extensive business connections. I assume he preferred to help him mainly behind the scenes."
However, the Presidential Office rejects the information: "The claim is categorically denied and is false. The President had no involvement in Sander's activities in Greece and did not recommend him, did not lead, nor did he help him, or anyone on his behalf, in the campaign in Greece or any other activity. As far as we know, Moti Sander has had extensive activity in Greece for many years. In this specific case, the President was asked, on a single occasion, if he knew Sander and was then asked, solely at the request of the interested parties, to forward a telephone number so that Mr. Sander could contact them. The transmission of the telephone number was done only because of the President's previous acquaintance with Sander, about whom he had been asked. The President had no previous acquaintance, nor does he have today, with Mr. Papastavrou, just as he has and had no knowledge of Sander's activities in Greece, and does not know if anything resulted from said request."
Herzog's office added: "It is emphasized that Prime Minister Netanyahu's request for a pardon is being examined according to the rules that bind the President, and there is no intention of deviating from them, even under pressure of any kind."
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