Public diplomacy of Israel

Hasbara (הסברה) (or hasbarah) is the Hebrew noun for the action of "explaining" in the narrow sense of the word.

Introduction

The term has been used by both the State of Israel and private groups to describe their efforts at explaining official Israeli government policies and promoting Israel advocacy to the world at large. It is viewed positively and actively encouraged by almost all Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli organizations and instititutions. See the entry for Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs as an example. Hasbara bears similarities to some programming on the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and the BBC World Service.

Critics maintain that Israel's hasbara efforts are propaganda. Supporters contend that Israel's efforts are no different from any governmental or corporate effort to positively advertise their unique views, functions, and achievements in hopes of winning over the hearts and minds of the undecided, opponents and skeptics. Others state that hasbara is not propaganda, because "while propaganda strives to highlight the positive aspects of one side of a conflict, hasbara seeks to explain actions, whether or not they are justified." [1]

In the words of one such hasbara group, the Israel Citizens Information Council (ICIC): "The purpose of the ICIC is to assist efforts to explain Israeli life from the vantage point of the average Israeli citizen. Towards that end, the ICIC enlists Israelis from all walks of life to participate in its various projects...One of our major activities is the production of special Powerpoint presentations which we post on our website. These presentations review specific aspects and issues related to Israel and the Middle East..." [2].

There are a number of active hasbara websites on the Internet, and some of them devote themselves to world Jewish affairs, not just those relating to Israeli governmental policy. See external links below.

Israel's Hasbara

Several Israel government ministries and agencies deal with hasbara:

The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs [3] deals with issues such as Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust [4]; Terrorism [5]; Jerusalem [6] and many more.
The Israel Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport, with sections devoted to living with terrorism and its meaning for children [7]; Gender equality [8] and more.
The Jewish Agency For Israel promotes "Jewish Zionist Education and Identity" [9] such as J.U.I.C.E. (Jewish University in Cyberspace)[10] and "University Programs for Overseas Students" [11]
The Ministry for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs presently headed by Natan Sharansky former Refusenik who states that: "No one can convey the thoughts, emotions, and opinions of Israeli society today better than a person living in the country. And no Israeli can relate to the thoughts, emotions, and opinions of citizens in other countries better than the people who once lived in those countries. The Hasbara Program of ICIC combines these two truths into one powerful program. In my position as the representative of the government and people of Israel to the Jewish world, I believe that through initiatives such as the ICIC volunteer hasbara program and this website, we will be able to bridge the "information gap" between Israel and the outside world, and I welcome this addition to the field..." [12].
The Israel Prime Minister's Office [13] releasing press releases, speeches, "Government Press Office" [14], and the Israel President's Office [15].

Methods

Some Hasbara documents explain propaganda techniques, claiming to be reporting on methods used by Palestinian activists, yet providing advice on how to use these very tactics in defense of Israel. For example, one organization describes its Hasbara effort at Seven Basic Propaganda Devices as explaining "how each of these devices is used by Palestinian activists... to manipulate their audience....the article...gives ideas for countering these propaganda techniques, as well as a few more positive suggestions", yet advises the Hasbara activist reader on propaganda methods for his/her own use, such as the following:

"For the Israel activist, it is important to be aware of the subtly different meanings that well chosen words give. Call 'demonstrations' "riots", many Palestinian political organizations "terror organizations", and so on."[16]

since, according to the article, "those opposed to Israel use name calling all the time."

An abridged version of this (clearly marked as such), with irrelevant sections relating to alleged Palestinian propaganda tactics removed, has been posted on indymedia websites Vancouver Indymedia Resist.ca UK Indymedia around the world. Supporters of Hasbara have argued that this edited version is unfair, because many paragraphs are combined from separate pages on separate topics.

External links

Hasbara organizations

Articles critical of Hasbara