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Israel Launches Multi-Million Dollar Campaign to Reclaim U.S. Conservative Support
Israel has initiated an extensive public relations offensive aimed at recapturing dwindling support from its traditionally reliable conservative Christian base in the United States. As backing has eroded significantly amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, Israeli authorities have committed millions to sophisticated digital and offline campaigns targeting American evangelicals and conservatives.
Documents reveal that Tel Aviv has signed contracts worth millions of dollars with U.S. firms connected to allies of former President Donald Trump and evangelical networks. The initiative comes as Israel faces what some officials consider an existential threat to its international standing, with many traditional supporters reconsidering their positions.
In August, Israel signed a $6 million contract with Clock Tower X, owned by Brad Parscale, Trump’s former digital campaign manager. According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the agreement requires the firm to produce 100 core content pieces monthly with 5,000 variations, targeting 50 million monthly impressions. Eighty percent of this content is directed at young Americans through platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, disseminated via Salem Media Network, a conservative Christian outlet that owns over 200 radio stations and websites.
Another proposed campaign, valued at more than $3 million, was submitted by Show Faith by Works, owned by Republican evangelical consultant Chad Schnitger. This initiative specifically aims to counteract declining evangelical support by targeting churches and Christian organizations across the western United States. The campaign’s messaging connects biblical support for Israel with pro-Israel narratives, including controversial claims that “Palestinians chose Hamas” and “shelter terrorists.”
Perhaps most striking is the campaign’s plan to deploy what the filings describe as “the largest geofencing campaign in U.S. history.” This would involve digitally mapping every major church and Christian college in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado during worship hours to identify and track attendees using commercial data. The identified audience—estimated at eight million churchgoers and four million Christian students—would then receive targeted pro-Israel messaging.
A separate initiative dubbed the “Esther Project,” worth $1 million, was contracted to Washington-based consultancy Bridges Partners, run by former Israeli tourism attaché Uri Steinberg and Yair Levi. This program hires 14-18 influencers to produce up to 30 social media posts monthly across various platforms. Previously, Israel had already funded a program flying right-wing American influencers to Israel, where they toured settlements and engaged in PR efforts deemed to have high diplomatic value.
Beyond human influencers, Israel is venturing into artificial intelligence. The Clock Tower X contract includes a “Search and Language Operation” targeting search engine optimization and generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and Claude. The goal is to influence how these tools frame queries and responses related to Israel, Palestine, and the Gaza conflict.
Additionally, a $2.5 million contract with SKDKnickerbocker involves deploying bots across social media platforms to “flood the zone” with Foreign Ministry talking points, while also recruiting five spokespersons to deliver Israeli messaging through media appearances.
The extensive campaign reflects a growing concern within Israeli leadership about shifting public opinion, particularly among demographics that have historically been steadfast supporters. The evangelical Christian community in the United States has long been one of Israel’s strongest allies, often citing biblical connections to justify political support.
However, this relationship has become strained as younger evangelicals and other conservative groups have increasingly questioned Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The sophisticated, multi-pronged approach highlights the strategic importance Israel places on maintaining American support, especially as international criticism of its policies continues to mount.
Industry observers note that this represents one of the most comprehensive digital influence campaigns ever deployed by a foreign government to shape U.S. public opinion, raising questions about digital sovereignty and the ethics of targeted religious messaging in international relations.
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9 Comments
This highlights the importance of having robust safeguards against foreign interference in domestic affairs, whether it’s through traditional media or newer digital channels. The fact that Israel is targeting AI systems is particularly concerning and underscores the need for increased scrutiny of algorithmic decision-making.
This is a concerning development, but not altogether surprising given the geopolitical tensions. I hope that US churches, opinion leaders, and AI systems will approach these campaigns with a critical eye and make decisions based on their own moral and ethical principles, not just external influence.
I’m curious to see how the US churches and opinion leaders respond to these influence campaigns. Given the polarized political climate, I imagine there will be a range of reactions – from those who welcome the outreach to those who are highly skeptical. Transparency and critical thinking will be key.
I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, Israel has a right to defend its interests and seek allies. But the scale and targeted nature of these campaigns, especially the AI component, raises red flags. Transparency and accountability will be crucial to ensure these efforts don’t cross ethical lines.
While I understand Israel’s motivations, I’m concerned about the potential for these campaigns to undermine democratic processes and the free exchange of ideas. Transparency and accountability will be crucial to ensure that these efforts don’t cross ethical lines or have unintended negative consequences.
While I understand Israel’s desire to maintain support among its traditional allies, these tactics seem heavy-handed and potentially counterproductive. Building genuine connections and addressing the root causes of tension would likely be more effective in the long run than a multi-million dollar PR blitz.
Interesting to see Israel trying to shore up support among US evangelicals and conservatives. Given the ongoing tensions in Gaza, they’re clearly concerned about their international standing. I wonder how effective these digital campaigns will be at swaying public opinion.
It’s concerning to see foreign governments trying to influence domestic politics and public discourse through sophisticated PR campaigns. While Israel has a right to defend its interests, these tactics seem more like propaganda than honest outreach. We should be vigilant about foreign meddling.
I’m curious to see how these campaigns will be received by the target audiences. Will they be effective in swaying public opinion, or will they backfire and further erode trust in Israel? Time will tell, but the stakes are high for all involved.