Slovenian officials blame Israeli firm Black Cube for trying to manipulate vote
Slovenia’s government has accused Israeli private intelligence firm Black Cube of running an undercover operation to sway its elections, by posing as investors, secretly recording prominent figures talking about corruption, and then releasing edited tapes. Commenters debate whether this is primarily an exposure of genuine local corruption or an unacceptable case of foreign election interference, and how much responsibility lies with the Israeli state versus “private” firms closely tied to its security establishment. The incident is placed in a broader pattern of alleged Israeli and other foreign influence operations in Europe and the US, raising questions about how democracies can defend themselves against covert manipulation.
Nature of the Slovenian Operation
- Black Cube operatives allegedly posed as foreign investors, met Slovenian political and business figures, and secretly recorded them.
- Recordings reportedly show discussions of corruption, lobbying, and access to officials, then were released shortly before elections to damage a pro‑Palestinian / pro‑Palestine‑recognizing government.
- Some commenters highlight that the tapes were edited and context is missing; full authenticity and completeness are unclear.
Corruption vs. Foreign Interference
- Several participants say much of what’s on tape reflects “known” or long‑suspected local corruption, especially around infrastructure and municipal projects.
- Slovenians in the thread note a pattern of recurring corruption scandals across governments and parties.
- Disagreement:
- One side: exposing corruption is inherently good, even if done by shady actors.
- Other side: foreign entrapment and targeted release to sway an election is more serious than the relatively banal corruption described.
Role of Israel and Private Intelligence Firms
- Debate over whether this is “Israel” or “just” an Israeli private firm.
- Some argue such firms effectively function as extensions of the state and wouldn’t operate against core Israeli interests.
- Others stress the firm was likely hired by local political actors, so blame is shared.
- Broader pattern discussed: Israeli firms (Black Cube, Pegasus vendors, Psy‑Group) allegedly involved in influence operations and surveillance across multiple countries and elections.
Foreign Election Meddling and Norms
- Many see foreign electoral interference as deeply illegitimate; a few even call it “grounds for war,” though others say that’s unrealistic given how common meddling (Russia, China, US, Israel, etc.) has become.
- EU fragmentation is viewed both as a vulnerability (one veto state can be “captured”) and as partial “sandboxing” that limits damage.
US/Europe–Israel Relationship
- Several comments argue Israel benefits from, and sometimes serves, US and Western strategic interests, with aid and diplomatic cover enabling aggressive policies.
- Others counter that pro‑Israel influence is driven by a mix of domestic lobbies, ideology, and geopolitics, not a simple “Israel controls X” narrative.
Meta: Protests, Public Opinion, and Online Manipulation
- Side discussion on the effectiveness of protests (e.g., NoKings in the US): some see them as vital first steps; others dismiss them as performative and non‑disruptive.
- Multiple commenters assume large‑scale online brigading and information ops are now routine, including on platforms like HN, though concrete evidence in this thread is absent.