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Israel Boosts Propaganda Budget Amid Waning US Support
Israel’s cabinet has approved a draft 2026 state budget that dramatically increases funding for military spending and international propaganda efforts, according to the Jerusalem Post. The propaganda allocation, quadrupled from last year’s amount, comes as Israel seeks to counter growing criticism of its military operations in Gaza.
The expanded budget aims to finance various international influence campaigns, including foreign media operations, digital messaging initiatives, and efforts to counter criticism of Israel’s actions. The proposal encourages closer coordination between government ministries and “civil society organizations” to disseminate pro-Israeli messaging worldwide.
This budgetary shift coincides with Israel’s negotiations to renew and extend its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States. Reports indicate Israel is pushing to extend the agreement from the traditional ten years to up to 20 years, potentially securing at least $4 billion annually in American taxpayer funding.
The timing is significant as Israel faces an unprecedented erosion of public support in the United States following months of extensively documented military operations in Gaza and increasing international scrutiny of its treatment of Christians and Muslims in occupied territories.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged this challenge during a meeting with U.S.-based social media influencers shortly before the MOU discussions were revealed. “What we have to do is secure that part of the base of our support in the United States,” Netanyahu stated, noting this support “is being challenged systematically.”
The prime minister emphasized the importance of winning the information war on platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), praising TikTok’s potential acquisition by pro-Israel billionaire Larry Ellison as “the most important purchase that is going on.” Netanyahu also mentioned his relationship with X owner Elon Musk, referring to him as “a friend.”
Even before final approval by the Knesset, Israel’s propaganda apparatus continues to expand through private contracts. Recent Foreign Agents Registration Act filings show that Clock Tower X LLC, run by former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, has increased its contracts with the Israeli government from approximately $6 million to $9 million. These operations include efforts to influence American public opinion across digital platforms, including attempts to shape AI outputs from services like ChatGPT to produce pro-Israel responses regarding Gaza.
The Israeli government has also sponsored training programs targeting specific demographic groups crucial to maintaining U.S. support. Last month, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs brought over 1,000 pastors to Jerusalem for coordinated public diplomacy training, an initiative promoted by prominent American evangelical Zionists including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Speaking to attendees, Huckabee urged religious leaders to “go to their pulpits” and “push back” against what he described as a dangerous trend of questioning Israel’s role in Christian theology. Friends of Zion founder Dr. Mike Evans announced plans to reach one million pastors and “100 million people worldwide” through a global program launching in 2026.
Similarly, more than 80 student leaders from North America recently traveled to Israel under the government-funded “Hasbara Fellowship” program for propaganda training. These efforts specifically target American college campuses, where growing pro-Palestinian sentiment is viewed by Israeli policymakers as an “existential threat.”
Former CIA director Mike Pompeo, speaking at the MirYam Institute’s Israel Security Briefing, was applauded for arguing that “we need to make sure” history books “don’t write about the victims of Gaza,” highlighting the long-term perception management goals of these initiatives.
While specific allocations remain unclear, previous “public diplomacy” funds have financed organizations like ISGAP and CyberWell, which work to influence social media discourse and advocate for disciplinary measures against U.S. college campuses critical of Israeli policies.
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10 Comments
This news about Israel’s expanded propaganda budget is quite alarming. Significant government funding for international influence campaigns raises serious questions about the integrity of information reaching US audiences. Objectivity and transparency must be prioritized in public discourse on these important issues.
This news about Israel’s expanded propaganda budget is quite troubling. Efforts to sway public opinion through coordinated messaging raise questions about transparency and the integrity of information reaching US audiences. I hope there will be close scrutiny of these activities.
I agree, the lack of transparency around these influence campaigns is worrying. The public deserves to have access to objective, fact-based information, not government-sponsored propaganda, when it comes to important geopolitical issues.
The significant increase in Israel’s propaganda budget is concerning. While I understand the desire to shape narratives, excessive government-funded messaging raises red flags. Maintaining an informed and critical public discourse should be the priority, not spreading biased information.
Interesting to see Israel ramping up its PR efforts to reach US audiences. With growing criticism of its actions, this seems like a strategic move to counter negative perceptions. It will be worth watching how these influence campaigns play out and impact public opinion.
You raise a good point. The increased funding for propaganda efforts is certainly concerning, especially as Israel seeks to extend its US aid package. Transparency and accountability around these influence campaigns will be crucial.
Israel’s move to dramatically boost its propaganda efforts targeting the US is a noteworthy development. With growing criticism of its actions, this suggests a concerted strategy to sway public opinion through coordinated messaging. It will be important to closely monitor the implementation and impacts of these influence campaigns.
You make a good point. The scale of this propaganda push is quite concerning, especially given Israel’s negotiations to extend its US aid package. Maintaining objectivity and transparency should be paramount when it comes to sensitive geopolitical issues.
The dramatic increase in Israel’s propaganda budget is certainly eye-catching. While nations often seek to shape narratives, the scale of this effort is concerning. Maintaining an informed and critical public discourse should be the priority, not government-sponsored messaging campaigns. I hope there will be close scrutiny of these activities.
I agree, the lack of transparency around these influence campaigns is very worrying. The public deserves access to objective, fact-based information, not biased propaganda, when it comes to important geopolitical issues like this.