Israel is losing the information war, one wrong appointment at a time - opinion

Israel appears to be losing the critical battle for international legitimacy due to a series of perceived missteps in its public diplomacy efforts, particularly concerning its engagement with international media. The article points to a lack of proactive communication and a failure to effectively counter negative narratives as key reasons for this perceived deficit.

A recent incident involving Nicholas Kristof, who posted a picture from the West Bank with Munther Amira, a Palestinian described as having endured "brutal abuse in Israeli prisons," exemplifies the problem. The author questioned why no one from the Israeli government reached out to Kristof, suggesting that a proactive approach could have potentially led to a more balanced or at least a different story in Kristof's subsequent column.

The article criticizes the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for appointing an officer with no prior media experience as its International Media Spokesperson, replacing a veteran professional. The IDF Spokesperson's Office cited "diplomatic experience" as justification, a reason left unexplained and deemed irrelevant by the author for managing international media during wartime. This appointment is seen as indicative of a broader issue within Israel's strategic communication apparatus.

Israel is currently engaged in what the article describes as the "greatest battle in its history for international legitimacy," with every military operation under intense scrutiny from journalists, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court. The effectiveness of the IDF's storytelling is presented as having a direct impact on the country's ability to fight and maintain diplomatic relationships. The author argues that the person in charge of this crucial role needs expertise in crafting narratives, countering misleading headlines, and using media interviews for strategic influence, skills that appear to be lacking.