Exclusive: Israeli documents show expansive government effort to shape US discourse around Gaza war

[Violet_Crumble]

As the Gaza war rages, Israeli funds target US college campuses and push to redefine antisemitism in US law

Last November, just weeks into the war in Gaza, Amichai Chikli, a brash, 42-year-old Likud minister in the Israeli government, was called into the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, to brief lawmakers on what could be done about rising anti-war protests from young people across the United States, especially at elite universities.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again now, that I think we should, especially in the United States, be on the offensive,” argued Chikli.

Chikli has since led a targeted push to counter critics of Israel. The Guardian has uncovered evidence showing how Israel has relaunched a controversial entity as part of a broader public relations campaign to target US college campuses and redefine antisemitism in US law.

Seconds after a smoke alarm subsided during the hearing, Chikli assured the lawmakers that there was new money in the budget for a pushback campaign, which was separate from more traditional public relations and paid advertising content produced by the government. It included 80 programs already under way for advocacy efforts “to be done in the ‘Concert’ way”, he said.

The “Concert” remark referred to a sprawling relaunch of a controversial Israeli government program initially known as Kela Shlomo, designed to carry out what Israel called “mass consciousness activities” targeted largely at the US and Europe. Concert, now known as Voices of Israel, previously worked with groups spearheading a campaign to pass so-called “anti-BDS” state laws that penalize Americans for engaging in boycotts or other non-violent protests of Israel.

Its latest incarnation is part of a hardline and sometimes covert operation by the Israeli government to strike back at student protests, human rights organizations and other voices of dissent.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/24/israel-fund-us-university-protest-gaza-antisemitism

[JohnSJ]

1. Isn't that the same thing Hamas is doing, to shape opinion?

The fact that the Israeli SC has now ruled that ultra orthodox are no longer exempt from military service, could finally change the dynamic against Netanyahu in Israeli politics.

[Beastly Boy]

2. What is so controversial about this? Sounds like a pretty legitimate PR campaign.

And that compares to the Russian and Iranian troll farms and UAE throwing millions into Al jazeera... how?

[Aussie105]

3. It's important to placate your friends.

Especially those who fund and supply your dirty war.