The Machinery of Hasbarah

How Israel Shapes Global Narratives

I published translation of an article in Norwegian earlier about this, but here I go a bit more into the history.

Since its founding in 1948, Israel has employed a systematic approach to controlling the global narrative surrounding its actions, particularly in relation to the Palestinian issue. This strategy, commonly referred to as Hasbarah (Hebrew for "explanation" or "public diplomacy"), is far more than mere public relations. It is a coordinated, state-backed effort to justify military actions, deflect criticism, and silence opposition—both domestically and internationally. Through media manipulation, lobbying, and digital campaigns, Israel has been remarkably effective in shaping how its policies are perceived, often at the expense of truth and accountability.

Historical Foundations of Hasbarah

The roots of Hasbarah can be traced back to the early Zionist movement, where propaganda was essential in garnering international support for the establishment of a Jewish state. Early Zionist leaders like Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion understood that Western sympathy was crucial for their cause, particularly in securing British and American backing.

Following the 1948 Nakba ("Catastrophe"), during which over 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes, Israel aggressively framed the event as a defensive war for survival. Israeli officials and Western allies portrayed the displacement as a voluntary exodus rather than ethnic cleansing, a narrative that still persists today. The same tactics were used in later conflicts, including the 1967 Six-Day War, where Israel preemptively attacked neighboring Arab nations while maintaining the image of a besieged victim defending itself.

Hasbarah in the Digital Age

With the rise of social media, Hasbarah has evolved into a highly sophisticated digital propaganda machine. The Israeli government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and army-affiliated units like the Hasbara Fellowships and Act.IL, mobilizes social media users to counter criticism of Israel. These groups coordinate mass reporting of pro-Palestinian content, spread pro-Israel talking points, and harass critics online. In 2021, during Israel’s bombing of Gaza, Twitter and Facebook were flooded with coordinated campaigns portraying Israel as the victim, while Palestinian voices and videos of destruction were systematically suppressed.

Israel also leverages artificial intelligence and bots to amplify its narratives. Research has shown that during major escalations, automated accounts push Hasbarah messages, drowning out authentic Palestinian testimonies. Furthermore, Israeli tech companies such as NSO Group, known for developing the Pegasus spyware, have been implicated in surveillance and repression of journalists and activists critical of Israel.

Lobbying and Media Influence

One of Hasbarah’s most effective tools is Israel’s deep influence over Western media and politics. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States, ensures that U.S. politicians remain staunchly pro-Israel, often at the expense of human rights concerns. Any criticism of Israeli policies in mainstream American media is met with swift backlash, with critics often smeared as "antisemitic"—a tactic used to silence dissent rather than address the substance of the criticism.

Western media outlets frequently adopt Israeli talking points without question. For example, the BBC, CNN, and The New York Times have consistently framed Israeli airstrikes on Gaza as "clashes" or "conflicts" rather than state-led aggression against an occupied population. The language used is deliberately sanitized: Palestinian resistance fighters are labeled "terrorists," while Israeli soldiers engaging in extrajudicial killings are portrayed as "defenders of democracy."

Deflection, Distortion, and Delegitimization

Hasbarah operates on three primary pillars: deflection, distortion, and delegitimization.

1. Deflection: When Israel is accused of war crimes or human rights violations, Hasbarah strategies pivot to focusing on Palestinian actions. This tactic was evident after the 2018 Great March of Return protests in Gaza, where Israeli snipers killed over 200 unarmed demonstrators. Instead of addressing the disproportionate use of force, Israeli media and spokespersons emphasized Hamas’s alleged involvement, shifting blame onto the victims.

2. Distortion: Israeli narratives frequently distort historical and current realities. For instance, Hasbarah portrays Jerusalem as Israel’s "undivided capital," ignoring the fact that East Jerusalem is internationally recognized as occupied territory. Similarly, Israel claims to be "the only democracy in the Middle East" while systematically disenfranchising Palestinians under its rule.

3. Delegitimization: Any organization or individual advocating for Palestinian rights faces relentless attacks. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for nonviolent economic pressure on Israel, has been aggressively smeared as antisemitic, despite being modeled after the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. In recent years, Israel has pressured Western governments to criminalize BDS activism, effectively curbing free speech under the guise of combating antisemitism.

The Future of Hasbarah and the Fight for Truth

Despite Israel’s vast propaganda apparatus, cracks are beginning to show. Social media has empowered Palestinian voices, allowing them to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. Global solidarity movements, including Jewish groups opposed to Israeli apartheid, are challenging Hasbarah's monopoly over the narrative. The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations have increasingly scrutinized Israeli war crimes, further exposing the discrepancies in Hasbarah’s messaging.

Yet, the battle remains uphill. As long as Israel enjoys unwavering Western support and dominates media discourse, Hasbarah will continue to serve as a shield against accountability. But as history has shown, no amount of propaganda can indefinitely suppress the truth.

The question remains: Will the world continue to accept Hasbarah’s distortions, or will it finally demand justice for Palestine?

https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/the-art-of-deception-how-israel-uses-hasbara-to-whitewash-its-crimes-12766404