Posted on 06/15/2009 5:58:21 AM PDT by SJackson
The war that Israel keeps losing is the war of world opinion, the war for individual hearts and minds. Consider recent stumbles.
Israel's military campaign in Gaza should have been named "8,000 is enough!" This would have communicated a determination to stop the barrage of missiles from Hamas, using surgical precision to destroy its arsenal, but destroying all of it, not just a part. Enough was enough: 8,000 missiles launched on the nation's civilian population would no longer be tolerated.
Unfortunately the operation was dubbed, "Cast Lead." The resulting image in the English-speaking world was not helpful. Lead is a soft metal associated with poison. The implication, then, was an unprofessional plan with ambivalent determination, biased motives and toxic methods.
Which is exactly how governments and media judge "the Gaza war." Israel and her defenders respond by arguing, "Israel has the right to defend herself." This is true, but flawed. Why? Limiting Israel's self-defense to a right makes it an option. Little wonder, then, that Israel's enemies portray her as a ruthless bully. In the matter of Gaza, for example, she could have chosen to refrain.
In fact, Israel has more than a right to defend her citizens and existence. Along with every sovereign state, she has a mandate to defend against invaders, murderers, thieves, poverty and disease. And from enemies who declare war and wage it.
The Hamas unamended charter of 1988 is a declaration of war. It explicitly calls for destruction of the Jewish state of Israel through jihad - against Jews and Christians (Article 13). Any member who abandons this struggle is guilty of "high treason and cursed" (Article 32). Accordingly, any "initiatives... so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to [these] principles" (Article 13).
Even so, the United States is on the verge of engaging Hamas as entity that is on par with Israel. No, not on par: morally superior. Consider the recent image splashed across America by political cartoonist, Pat Oliphant, portraying Israel as a headless, heartless, jack-booted Nazi devouring helpless, little Gaza.
Where did that idea come from? Look at Article 20 of Hamas's 1988 charter and see who is winning the PR war.
Of course it is more than public opinion that is being lost; it is the death of common sense; it is defeat in the war for truth.
EVEN EVANGELICAL SUPPORT is eroding. A vocal minority remain effusive on Israel's behalf. But the broader community is not monolithic. Many of its members are hungry for change, not unlike the political appetite that won Barack Hussein Obama the presidency. Among evangelicals the religious equivalent is a movement led by people like Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christian; Stephen Sizer, a pastor who has gained popularity by condemning "Christian Zionism"; and, of course, Jimmy Carter, who accuses Israel of committing a "holocaust." How widespread is the erosion of evangelical support for Israel? Google this: "Letter to President Bush from Evangelical Leaders." Look at those who signed it - and the organizations they represent. Their claim to "represent large numbers of evangelicals" is true.
And behind it all? A resurgence of replacement theology, an ideology that, for almost 1700 years, has been used to ignite atrocities against Jewish communities.
So what can Israel do to win its global PR war, a war for truth?
One of Judaism's greatest traits is that, while the rest of world talks, it acts. The government of Israel has beefed up media relations and lobbying efforts to Western countries. It makes a special effort to reach Christians through its Tourism Ministry and the Knesset's Christian Allies Caucus.
Religious Israeli organizations do a first-rate job in taking their case to gentiles. And a host of secular entities, most of them nonprofits, are second to none in telling the truth about Israel and exposing its enemies' lies.
But it is not enough. What else can be done? How can Israel be a more effective light that draws the nations to her?
First, recruit the world of commerce. Independent, for-profit media companies must present the broad canvas of Israeli news. Expanded investments in Israeli technologies will yield medical breakthroughs, unleash alternative energy sources and provide water and food for the world's population.
Second, aim directly to inform the potential "grassroot" supporters of the Jewish state. Bring Israel to them and they will come to Israel, both as tourists and supporters of the state.
Yes, methods include the Internet and its social networking tools. Still, there is nothing more effective than firsthand encounters.
So. Sponsor events. Send invitations to others instead of seeking invitations from others.
Deploy first-class conventions and shows and fairs, events hosted on civic platforms around the world. Get endorsements from influential people to market these events. Use them to showcase Israel, not defame it.
Begin these tours where demographic support is strong. Respect religious sensibilities. But use secular venues so that people from different backgrounds will feel comfortable and welcome. Participants with a variety of interests - business, social, political and religious - will enhance grassroot support for Israel and her people.
Most importantly, seek wisdom from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Listen for the whisper of His counsel. He alone is God of all the nations. Under the banner of His leadership, Israel will win.
The writer is director of radio broadcasting for Israel World TV.
“Your reasons for supporting or not supporting Israel are completely irrelevant and suggest a lack of understanding...
It has... to do...with God’s promise”
Okayyyy - tell him I said “Hi”.
“And if you shot everybody who fought for the Germans or for the Soviets, you’d have to shoot a whole generation in Eastern Europe.”
Thats a cop out - we have prosecuted 14000 plus Nazis and death camp guards (though we let the Jewish death camp guards go free) but not one Commie genocidal scum.
You know and I know that some of the worst live fat, dumb, and happy in Russia and Israel. We can never trust Russia but Israel should be more forthcoming.
“Are you unaware that Israel was bombarded by 8,000 rockets and missiles for years until they cleaned up Gaza in December?”
I am not sure that those projectiles killed any Jews - I believe they might have killed a couple Israeli Arabs because they are primitive weapons without warheads.
I stand by my statement - there can be no significant Arab attack against Israel since Israel would annhialate them.
The Russians have had thousands of nukes pointed at us for 60 years but they dare not attack us for the same reason.
Americans have learned to deal with it, and Israel should show its support for the west.
“I would say you are far from having warm and fuzzy feelings towards the Jewish people “
My trust does not fall along religious or racial lines; either you support western democracy and fight leftist genocidal scum... or you dont and Hitler, Stalin, Trotsky, are of the latter.
Its really quite simple, isnt it? And there is no excuse for sheltering admitted commie murderers.
“Then I guess you should have no problem with sending Demjanjuk back for trial. If you do then you are a liar.
I am not sure what Israel finding Demjanjuk innocent has to do with leftist elements in Israel shielding commies.
Israel has strong support from the west and they need to show their support for the west too. There are lots of American, British, Polish, Ukrainian boys that have given their lives in the Middle East and Israelis needs to reciprocate.
I think it’s also part of the growing effort in the agenda to marginalise true Christianity and Christians to the fringes of society-this is just the beginning. Already Bible-believing Christians are portrayed as extremists, as a fringe element, as “hate groups” by some lobbys (ie the homosexual lobby). We know there will come a day even in western democracies when Christians will have to meet discreetly, already you can’t proclaim your Christianity publicly, even by such small innocuous symbols as the wearing of a cross, in some public arenas-that is, unless you are part of the “Christian left”, or Christian in name only (would that be CINOs, as in RINOs-Republicans in name only?) These strictures don’t apply to, for instance, Muslims, who are even given government (taxpayer) funded “prayer rooms” in public schools and are accommodated in many work places even at the inconvenience of other employees or customers (such as in UK hospitals), “rights” such as Christians would never be allowed.
The PR problem of Israel is the same as the PR problem of conservatives in the US - the left owns and runs the MSM. It is hard to get your message out when the media doesn’t report it.
I have been closely following the media coverage of Netanyahu’s speech. He made a speech that contradicted Obama’s Muslim pandering and historical revisionism in Cairo. It was a strong speech that laid out an absolute pre-condition - recognition of Israel as the Jewish State. His poll numbers in Israel have gone way up subsequently. But all the US media reported was - Netanyahu supports two states and buckles to Obama. Even FOX news had lousy reportage.
And that is the US which is more pro-Israel by a lot than Europe. In Europe you can expect France 2, BBC, CNN International, Reuters actual complicity in creating fake anti-Israel news (Pallywood).
I don’t think this losing battle can be blamed on lousy Hasbara.
Having said that I think Israel did a vastly superior job in the Gaza war than it did in the last Lebanon war. Thank you Ehud Barak. Cell phones of soldiers in the field were confiscated. There was an absolute media ban in Gaza and on all soldiers involved. This was successful to a large degree in preventing the news manipulation Hezbollah created in Lebanon and that resulted in the myth of the Jenin massacre.
Note - that did not occur in this last Gaza conflict. Give credit where credit is due.
Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant; they do.
Understanding that explains their position and why they are unlikely to withdraw their support of Israel, not matter what the present circumstances.
As for saying Hi to God; why not do it yourself ?
“It has... to do...with God’s promise”
Promise to do what? Shall we ask a Satmar?
What of God’s promise that Israel would rise with the coming of the Messiah?
Let me remind you this thread is about the PR problem of Israel and my position is that Israel needs to align with the West - harboring commie genocidal scum while boys from the former communist countries is a MAJOR PR problem.
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