The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/hasbara/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:41:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png hasbara | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/hasbara/ 32 32 From anti-Israel Legos to fake footage, Iran’s AI propaganda owns the digital battlefield https://www.timesofisrael.com/from-anti-israel-legos-to-fake-footage-irans-ai-propaganda-owns-the-digital-battlefield/ Wed, 13 May 2026 19:24:21 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3815574 Harnessing artificial intelligence for cutesy songs and other content, Tehran proves adept at spreading its narrative, dominating Israel's attempts to win hearts and minds of internet users

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]]> Inside Israel’s ‘Esther Project’: DOJ filings reveal paid US influencer campaign amid AI-powered PR blitz https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-secret-esther-project-doj-filings-reveal-paid-us-influencer-campaign/ Wed, 01 Oct 2025 01:46:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3654025 As officials call social media the current war's 'eighth front,' new documents reveal how Jerusalem is paying to shape US opinion

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]]> Failing on the 8th front: The mounting cost of Israel’s dysfunctional public diplomacy https://www.timesofisrael.com/failing-on-the-8th-front-the-mounting-cost-of-israels-dysfunctional-public-diplomacy/ Fri, 01 Aug 2025 06:28:43 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3608859 As shocking images from Gaza shape global outrage and turn allies cold, officials say they are working to improve Israel's messaging — but the effort remains leaderless and disjointed

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]]> Foreign Ministry to receive massive budget for public diplomacy abroad https://www.timesofisrael.com/foreign-ministry-to-receive-massive-budget-for-public-diplomacy-abroad/ Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:48:13 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3448747 Foreign Minister Sa'ar does not detail what money will be used for, but the hefty funding was part of deal for his joining Netanyahu government

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]]> Israel’s 9-year-old ‘Spokeskid’ explains the war through a child’s eyes https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-9-year-old-spokeskid-explains-the-war-through-a-childs-eyes/ Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:47:58 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3442877 Ben Carasso, a fourth-grader from Tel Aviv, volunteers with the Israeli Citizen Spokespersons' Office initiative and shares his experiences on social media and speaking tours

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]]> Will newly beefed-up PR budget bolster Israel’s dire standing in court of world opinion? https://www.timesofisrael.com/will-newly-beefed-up-pr-budget-bolster-israels-dire-standing-in-court-of-world-opinion/ Fri, 13 Dec 2024 02:08:55 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3436588 Foreign Ministry budgets over NIS 500 million to improve country's image in ongoing, multi-front war, but the national advocacy effort is disjointed, leaderless, and way too slow

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]]> ‘Pretty infantile’: Public diplomacy mavens pan FM for insulting world leaders on X https://www.timesofisrael.com/pretty-infantile-public-diplomacy-mavens-pan-fm-for-insulting-world-leaders-on-x/ Wed, 14 Aug 2024 16:16:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3354182 Top 'hasbara' activists say Israel Katz's habit of lampooning heads of state on social media is ineffective, perceived as unserious and 'just adds fuel to the flame'

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]]> ‘Pyromaniacs who spout nonsense’: Ex-IDF spokesman blames ministers for war’s bad PR https://www.timesofisrael.com/pyromaniacs-who-spout-nonsense-ex-idf-spokesman-blames-ministers-for-wars-bad-pr/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 19:31:27 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3325838 British-born Peter Lerner says government's lack of planning for Gaza's future left him rhetorically unarmed for foreign press as post-Oct. 7 'leeway of legitimacy' faded away

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]]> Diaspora Ministry funded fake social media posts to spread pro-Israel content — NYT https://www.timesofisrael.com/diaspora-ministry-funded-fake-social-media-posts-to-spread-pro-israel-content-nyt/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 14:04:03 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3305662 Paper says influence campaign, which reportedly targeted Black US lawmakers, was commissioned by Israeli government, didn’t have widespread impact; ministry denies involvement

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]]> The social media star who uses snark to fight Israel’s war of information https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-social-media-star-who-uses-snark-to-fight-israels-war-of-information/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 07:03:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3220232 Irreverent entertainer Shachar Levy -- aka DawnLev -- uses her platform to create viral pro-Israel content that encourages viewers to think critically about the Israel-Hamas war

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]]> Israel’s newest, British-born international spokesperson is raising some eyebrows https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-newest-british-born-international-spokesperson-is-raising-some-eyebrows/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 06:29:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3176504 Between his mic drop moments and fiery rebuttals of skeptical interviewers, Eylon Levy is learning to master TikTok and confronting Hamas supporters on social media

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]]> Foreign Ministry denies its own official’s claim public diplomacy activities halted https://www.timesofisrael.com/foreign-ministry-denies-its-own-officials-claim-public-diplomacy-activities-halted/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 21:11:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3153483 Ministry says NIS 100 million transferred to maintain government efforts to justify war on Hamas, after public diplomacy official said lack of funds has caused them to cease

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]]> Aussie influencer Natebuzz in Israel to fight social media battle https://www.timesofisrael.com/aussie-influencer-natebuzz-in-israel-to-fight-social-media-battle/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:58:56 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3145913 Actor and born-again Christian Nate Buzolic believes in Israel and the Jews, and wants to shift the online pro-Palestinian narrative

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]]> Netanyahu said to support publishing raw video of Hamas atrocities; IDF mulling move https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-said-to-support-publishing-raw-video-of-hamas-atrocities-idf-mulling-move/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 11:36:03 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3145905 PM reportedly believes gruesome compilation will aid advocacy efforts for war, others warn it would quickly lose its effect; some relatives of victims said to oppose its wide use

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]]> NYC ‘Kidnapped’ posters calling attention to Israeli hostages keep getting torn down https://www.timesofisrael.com/nyc-kidnapped-posters-calling-attention-to-israeli-hostages-keep-getting-torn-down/ Wed, 18 Oct 2023 22:04:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3127395 Created by Israeli street artists in the city for an art residency, the signs have caught on across the globe - and have emerged as a new front in the battle for hearts and minds

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