A proposal calls for nearly quintupling Israel’s public diplomacy – or hasbara – budget.
The plan calls for increasing the propaganda budget to $729 million in 2026, up from $150 million this year. The significant boost to the public diplomacy fund comes as Israel’s image is plummeting in the US.
Over the past years, polls have found that a decreasing number of Americans support Israel and approve of Tel Aviv’s onslaught in Gaza. A New York Times survey in September found more Americans sympathize with Palestinians than Israelis. Additionally, 40% of Americans believe Israel is intentionally killing Palestinians in Gaza.
Earlier this year, public filings showed that the Israeli Foreign Ministry is spending $4.1 million to target American Evangelical Christians. The campaign will involve creating a mobile “October 7 experience” that will visit Christian colleges, churches, and events.
Another FARA filing revealed that Tel Aviv is paying some influencers up to $7,000 per post that promotes Israeli narratives. Israel is also planning to spend $145 million to influence popular AI chatbots.
Tel Aviv’s public relations push also involves bringing Americans to Israel. Earlier this year, the Israeli Foreign Minister gathered 250 state-level American lawmakers for a conference on passing laws that target the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in the US.
