Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

hasbara

Protesters against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war in Gaza walk towards the United Nations in midtown Manhattan, New York, on September 24, 2026. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images via JTA)
October 26, 2026, 4:55 am
Israel’s global image is in free fall. Why isn’t it a bigger issue in the election?
As hostility toward Israel grows over Gaza war and settler violence, many voters believe problem is beyond their control, accept Netanyahu’s argument issue rooted in antisemitism
By Ruth Eglash
People of Israel Knesset candidate Fleur Hassan-Nahoum seen shortly after the car she was traveling in was attacked near the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya in the central West Bank on October 19, 2026. (Screen captures: X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
October 19, 2026, 6:26 pm
Palestinians attack pro-settlement group including right-wing politician, her party says
Footage shows stone smashing window of car carrying Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, candidate for People of Israel party, in West Bank; party chair Ofer Winter says government failing to combat terrorism
By Ariela Karmel, Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
Official Iranian social media accounts share AI-generated Lego propaganda promoting its wartime narrative. (X)
May 13, 2026, 10:24 pm
From anti-Israel Legos to fake footage, Iran’s AI propaganda owns the digital battlefield
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
By Nava Freiberg
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, speaks with Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar during a debate in the Knesset on March 26, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 1, 2025, 4:46 am
Inside Israel’s ‘Esther Project’: DOJ filings reveal paid US influencer campaign amid AI-powered PR blitz
As officials call social media the current war’s ‘eighth front,’ new documents reveal how Jerusalem is paying to shape US opinion
By Asaf Elia-Shalev
Protesters hold a banner calling for sanctions to be placed on Israel during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza amid fears of starvation in the war-torn territory outside Downing Street in London on July 29, 2025. (JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
August 1, 2025, 9:28 am
Failing on the 8th front: The mounting cost of Israel’s dysfunctional public diplomacy
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
By Nava Freiberg
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar makes a video statement on December 2, 2024. (Screenshot, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
December 29, 2024, 1:48 pm
Foreign Ministry to receive massive budget for public diplomacy abroad
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
By JTA and ToI Staff
Ben Carasso having tea with Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely. (Courtesy)
December 25, 2024, 7:47 am
Israel’s 9-year-old ‘Spokeskid’ explains the war through a child’s eyes
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
By Zev Stub
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to CNN in an interview aired January 31, 2023. (Screenshot/CNN, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
December 13, 2024, 4:08 am
Will newly beefed-up PR budget bolster Israel’s dire standing in court of world opinion?
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
By Katharina Kunert
Foreign Minister Israel Katz tours the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum in Jerusalem, February 19, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 14, 2024, 7:16 pm
‘Pretty infantile’: Public diplomacy mavens pan FM for insulting world leaders on X
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’
By ToI Staff
Screen capture from undated video of IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. (res.) Peter Lerner. (YouTube. Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
July 5, 2024, 10:31 pm
‘Pyromaniacs who spout nonsense’: Ex-IDF spokesman blames ministers for war’s bad PR
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
By ToI Staff
The Facebook logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, October 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
June 5, 2024, 5:04 pm
Diaspora Ministry funded fake social media posts to spread pro-Israel content — NYT
Paper says influence campaign, which reportedly targeted Black US lawmakers, was commissioned by Israeli government, didn’t have widespread impact; ministry denies involvement
By ToI Staff
Shachar Levy, known as DawnLev on social media. (Courtesy)
February 29, 2024, 9:03 am
The social media star who uses snark to fight Israel’s war of information
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
By Maya Zanger-Nadis
Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy films a TikTok clip, November 2023. (Avner Hofstein / Zman Yisrael)
December 20, 2023, 8:29 am
Israel’s newest, British-born international spokesperson is raising some eyebrows
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
By Avner Hofstein
Emmanuel Nahshon outside the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, January 28, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 14, 2023, 11:11 pm
Foreign Ministry denies its own official’s claim public diplomacy activities halted
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
By Michael Horovitz
Aussie influencer Nate Buzolic (third from right) says he came to Israel to help fight the social media battle (Courtesy)
November 6, 2023, 4:58 pm
Aussie influencer Natebuzz in Israel to fight social media battle
Actor and born-again Christian Nate Buzolic believes in Israel and the Jews, and wants to shift the online pro-Palestinian narrative
By Jessica Steinberg
Load More

Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community

Sign in or Register

Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Sign in or Register
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.