Israel Increases Propaganda Budget Targeting American Churchgoers and ChatGPT Users

In a significant escalation of its international public relations campaign, Israel has substantially increased its propaganda budget targeting American churchgoers and users of artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT, according to documents revealed last week.

The Israeli government has allocated millions of dollars to influence public opinion in the United States, focusing particularly on evangelical Christian communities that have traditionally been strong supporters of Israeli policies. The initiative comes as Israel faces mounting international criticism over its military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in thousands of civilian casualties.

The multi-pronged approach includes sponsored content in religious publications, organized tours of Israel for church leaders, and social media campaigns designed to reinforce pro-Israel sentiment among American Christians. Officials from Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs confirmed that the budget for these operations has increased by approximately 40 percent since October of last year.

“We recognize the importance of maintaining strong relationships with our allies in America’s faith communities,” said an Israeli government spokesperson who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive program. “These educational initiatives help combat misinformation and ensure that accurate information about Israel’s security challenges reaches concerned citizens.”

The campaign also features a novel approach to digital influence through AI platforms. Israeli officials have been working with technology specialists to optimize content that appears when users ask questions about the Israel-Palestine conflict on platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This strategy aims to ensure that AI-generated responses align with Israel’s preferred narrative.

Digital rights experts have expressed concern about this development. “Attempting to influence AI systems represents a new frontier in propaganda,” said Dr. Maya Henderson, a professor of digital ethics at Columbia University. “When governments invest heavily in shaping these automated responses, it raises serious questions about information manipulation and transparency.”

The targeting of evangelical communities builds on decades of Israeli outreach to American Christians, many of whom support Israel based on theological interpretations that connect modern Israel to biblical prophecy. Church groups from the United States make up a significant portion of Israel’s tourism industry, with many visitors participating in religiously themed tours that emphasize historical Jewish claims to contested territories.

Critics of the campaign argue that it represents an attempt to distract from humanitarian concerns in Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinian advocacy organizations have pointed out that the increased propaganda budget coincides with growing international calls for accountability regarding civilian casualties in Gaza.

“This is about controlling the narrative rather than addressing legitimate concerns about human rights violations,” said Omar Khalidi of the Palestinian Policy Network. “While millions are spent on PR in America, Palestinians continue to face dire humanitarian conditions that receive far less attention.”

The campaign also highlights Israel’s concern about eroding support among younger Americans, including young evangelicals, who polling shows are less reflexively supportive of Israeli policies than their parents’ generation.

Media analysts note that Israel’s approach represents a sophisticated understanding of America’s religious landscape. “By targeting specific faith communities with tailored messaging, Israel is leveraging existing cultural and theological connections rather than trying to build support from scratch,” explained Dr. Sarah Weinstein, who studies religion and foreign policy at Georgetown University.

The focus on AI platforms also reveals forward-thinking in propaganda strategies, as more people rely on artificial intelligence for information gathering. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has not commented specifically on Israel’s efforts but has previously stated that it works to ensure its systems provide balanced information on contentious topics.

As the conflict continues, both Israeli and Palestinian advocates are likely to intensify their information campaigns in the United States, where public opinion significantly influences American foreign policy decisions in the Middle East. For now, Israel’s strategic communications budget indicates its government believes that American public support remains critical to its international standing and security objectives.