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In a bid to counter misinformation about Israel’s territories, a new educational initiative titled “Beyond the Headlines: Judea and Samaria” launched its first webinar on February 22, marking the beginning of a comprehensive 10-part series aimed at providing factual information about the region.
The program, co-founded by American Friends of Judea and Samaria (AFJS) and Ariel University, seeks to address what organizers describe as a significant knowledge gap in international discourse surrounding the territories.
“Our central challenge in the battle for international public opinion is the absolute lack of knowledge regarding the facts on the ground,” explained Yigal Dilmoni, CEO and founder of AFJS. He emphasized that the series targets students, community representatives of Israel, and advocacy activists—both Jewish and non-Jewish—to help disseminate accurate information.
The inaugural webinar featured opening remarks from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, followed by a presentation from former Israeli Ambassador Yoram Ettinger, who discussed the often-debated topic of U.S. military aid to Israel. Ettinger’s lecture highlighted how this support represents a strategic investment that provides substantial returns to American interests—a particularly relevant topic as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently announced intentions to gradually reduce Israel’s dependence on such aid.
Gabriel Boxer, an online influencer known as the “Kosher Guru” who has built a following covering Jewish culture and kosher dining, hosts the series. The first session drew approximately 100 participants, primarily from the United States, Canada, and Australia.
“The reactions were amazing—everyone asked for the recording of the first webinar and wanted to distribute it. This testifies to its success,” Dilmoni noted.
The upcoming webinar will explore several critical aspects of Judea and Samaria, including its strategic and security importance for Israel and the broader Middle East region, its relevance to U.S. interests, its status under international law, and archaeological evidence supporting historical Jewish connections to the area.
When questioned about the effectiveness of this initiative compared to well-funded campaigns from sources like Qatar, Dilmoni maintained a determined outlook: “Every great struggle starts with one small step. We are not afraid of Qatari money nor anti-Semitism… It’s our mission to educate people and change consciousness one by one, without fear. We will grow from the bottom up and thus we will bring about change in the long term.”
The webinar series will continue with new sessions airing every two weeks on Sundays at 6:00 p.m. Israel time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time). All sessions remain available for on-demand viewing after their initial broadcast.
The program has secured an impressive lineup of future presenters, including Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, IDF Brigadier General (res.) Amir Avivi, and Yonatan Adler, an associate professor in archaeology at Ariel University, along with various researchers and regional experts.
The series has taken on additional significance as it now honors the memory of Gabi Harow, the late vice-president for resource development and external affairs at Ariel University, who passed away approximately one month ago.
This initiative emerges at a time of heightened global discussion about Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria, with competing narratives often dominating international discourse. By focusing on historical, legal, security, and archaeological dimensions of the territories, organizers aim to provide a more comprehensive framework for understanding the complex realities of the region beyond typical media coverage.
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10 Comments
Interesting initiative to provide factual information about Judea and Samaria. It’s important to have open and honest discussions on complex geopolitical issues, especially when there are misconceptions. I look forward to learning more from this educational series.
Educating the public on the realities of Judea and Samaria seems like a worthwhile endeavor. Addressing knowledge gaps and correcting misinformation is crucial, especially on sensitive issues. I’m curious to see how the series frames the discussion.
Providing accurate information about Judea and Samaria is a valuable undertaking. Given the political sensitivities, it will be important for this educational series to maintain a rigorously factual and impartial approach. I hope it succeeds in informing the discourse.
Addressing misconceptions about Judea and Samaria through an educational series seems like a worthwhile endeavor. Providing accurate information and historical context is important, even on issues that are politically contentious. I’ll be following this with interest.
An educational initiative to address misconceptions about Judea and Samaria seems like a constructive step. Fostering greater understanding of the region’s history and context is crucial, even on contentious topics. I’ll be curious to see how the series is received.
An educational initiative to dispel misconceptions about Judea and Samaria is a timely and necessary effort. Fostering factual understanding of the region’s complexities is important, even when the topic is politically charged. I hope the series achieves its goals.
Agreed. Promoting objective knowledge is essential, particularly on issues that are often polarized. I’m interested to see if the series manages to strike a balanced tone.
Countering disinformation with facts is a noble goal. Providing accurate information about the region’s history and context can help foster more nuanced understanding, even on contentious topics. I hope this series reaches a wide audience.
Countering disinformation with facts is a noble goal, especially on complex geopolitical issues like Judea and Samaria. This educational series could help provide much-needed clarity and nuance to the public discourse. I hope it achieves its aims.
Agreed. Promoting factual understanding is key, particularly on sensitive topics that are often oversimplified or distorted. I’m interested to see the approach and reception of this initiative.