NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Israeli PR - Black is White, White is Black!

By Ian Brockwell  

When offering an opinion or advice, have you ever wondered where you obtained your "wisdom" to provide it? You may answer "It was MY wisdom, I thought of it MYSELF!" But did you? Did you really?

Much of the knowledge we have is obtained through personal experience, but the majority of it has been given to us by others. In most cases that is normal and the information is a necessary part of our lives (like reading and writing, or learning a skill to do a certain job).

However, a great deal of the information presented to us is not designed to help YOU, but to benefit OTHERS, but cleverly "packaged" to make you believe it was all your own idea.

Take the recent military action by the US backed Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza, is the US backed Israel right to take such strong action?

Actually, I wasn't really asking a question, I simply wanted to give an example of how words can be "manipulated" to have a certain effect ("US backed"). I'm sure you have seen many pro-Israeli news articles that have used the phrase "Iran backed Hamas"? This is designed to give you the impression that Iran is behind all the killing we are seeing in Gaza. Once people have seen this often enough, they will automatically assume it is true. Chances are, if someone asks you why you believe that or where the information came from, you will probably respond "Are you stupid? Don't you listen to the news?" In truth, you have absolutely no idea who provided the information in the first place and assume that if everyone is talking about it, it must be true!

These mind manipulating tactics are nothing more than brainwashing; there is no other way to describe them. We have all seen these methods used in advertising, encouraging us to buy a product that we don't really need, but some organizations in Israel have taken this to a much higher level.

Although there are many organizations in Israel (and the US) that look to promote the country, I am going to single out just one to support my argument: The Israel Project.

First, let's take a look at their "About TIP" page:

"The Israel Project (TIP) is an international non-profit organization devoted to educating the press and the public about Israel while promoting security, freedom and peace. The Israel Project provides journalists, leaders and opinion-makers accurate information about Israel. The Israel Project is not related to any government or government agency.

Our team of trusted Middle East experts and former reporters provides journalists with fact sheets, backgrounders and sources. TIP regularly hosts press briefings featuring leading Israeli spokespeople and analysts that give journalists an opportunity to get information and answers to their questions face-to-face. By providing journalists with the facts, context and visuals they need, TIP causes hundreds of millions of people around the world to see a more positive public face of Israel. This helps protect Israel, reduce anti-Semitism and increase pride in Israel."

There is certainly nothing wrong in promoting the positive side of a country, many countries do this to attract tourists, and promoting peace is a fine goal indeed. But wait a minute......

Let's take a closer look at "The Israel Project" and some of those involved.

The site mentions "Our team of trusted Middle East experts". The team seems to be made up almost entirely of Jews who have very strong connections with Israel. Whilst I do not doubt for a moment that they are experts on Israel, simply studying the politics and cultures of another country, does not make you an expert on places like Iran, Lebanon, Syria or Egypt, you have to live and breathe the country for many years to claim that. And "trusted" by whom?

In reality, it is "The Israel Project" organization and its supporters who consider the staff "Middle East experts" and "trusted" Do other countries in the Middle East share this view?

The site also claims "The Israel Project provides journalists, leaders and opinion-makers accurate information about Israel." Are we to understand that "if" the IDF were to carry out some atrocity (just for example); this information would be given to reporters? I don't think so, do you? I don't know any country that would willingly do that, and certainly not and organization whose number one purpose is to make Israel look good!

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, the President and Founder of "The Israel Project" gives us a much clearer picture of what TIP (The Israel Project) is really all about.

On the site it says "Prior to starting The Israel Project, Mizrahi was the founder and president of Laszlo & Associates, Inc., a strategic communications and public policy company." (Actually, it was a million-dollar political consultancy company) and that "she has worked on projects with the White House, President Clinton, Vice President Gore and dozens of U.S. Senators". Mizrahi has been quoted as saying "We run The Israel Project the same way I would run a political campaign"

OK, let's take a look at how the "campaign" is run exactly (the following information includes extracts from an article published by Mother Jones):

In 2007 Laura Sonnenmark, a focus group regular, was invited to take part in an assignment which she was told would involve something "political". She discovered on arrival that the assignment was "to help test-market language that could be used to sell military action against Iran to the American public" According to Sonnenmark "The whole basis of the whole thing was, 'we're going to go into Iran and what do we have to do to get you guys to along with it?"

Whilst at the conference, Sonnenmark claimed "two fliers distributed at the focus group session bore the logo and name of Freedom's Watch, a high-powered, well-connected group of hawks. This summer, Freedom's Watch launched a $15 million ad campaign to support the escalation of troops in Iraq. It counts former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer and former deputy assistant to President Bush Bradley A. Blakeman among its leaders."

The final 3 questions given by the focus leader (after about two hours) were:

1. How would you feel if Hillary [Clinton] bombed Iran?
2. How would you feel if George Bush bombed Iran?
3. And how would you feel if Israel bombed Iran?

The Mother Jones article then made the following statement:

"After an earlier version of this story attributing the focus group to Freedom's Watch was posted, Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, the founder and president of the Israel Project, contacted Mother Jones and said that her group had commissioned the focus group and that it was designed by Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican polling firm...... Mizrahi says that her group and Freedom's Watch share a common interest in "thwarting the threat of Islamic extremism" and in "dealing with the threat of Iran." But Freedom's Watch "in no way is directing our work, and it's not funding our work." She pointed out that the Israel Project is not "involved with Iraq," a major concern of Freedom's Watch. But the two outfits, she said, "shared information" produced by this focus group.....Mizrahi confirmed that Freedom's Watch material was distributed to members of the focus group but insisted that ads from "lots of other groups" were handed out. "We test a lot of messages," she said."

Why would TIP commission such a focus group and ask how people would feel about Iran being "bombed" if she truly seeks peace?

I'd like to show a few statements/comments discovered in various articles over the years concerning TIP:

"The Israel Project launched a Press Ambassadors program that will train Israel advocates across America to serve as liaisons to local journalists and editors whose input shapes coverage of the conflict"

"As the founder of The Israel Project, Laszlo-Mizrahi focuses her efforts on improving the image of Israel and helping to mold pro-Israeli attitudes in the U.S."

"Laszlo-Mizrahi uses up-to-date advertising and polling methods to affect the way opinion leaders and the media view Israel and its ongoing struggles."

"The Israel Project has given Israel new tools in the battle to win the hearts and minds of the world" Shimon Peres

"What we see is that there are some messages that work, on Iran [for example] and some messages that don't," Laszlo-Mizrahi said. "We share [our] information with all of the political leaders across the political spectrum because they're the ones being interviewed on television."

A comment attributed to Mizrahi "75 percent of Americans with at least some knowledge about the Holocaust have warm feelings toward Jews." - And I thought the purpose of promoting the Holocaust was to deter others from doing the same, not to create "warm feelings"

Mizrahi "In the past month I have been to more than a dozen Jewish communities, and everywhere I go I see signs and wristbands that say "Save Darfur." Time and again I am touched that our people understand that tikkun olam includes taking care of others...But to be frank, if I go to yet another synagogue that has a sign about Darfur and nothing about the threat of Iran, I think my heart will break...Worry about Darfur? Yes. But why can't we worry about Iran - perhaps the greatest threat to Israel ever?" - Sounds a little selfish, doesn't it?

Mizrahi "There are those in the Jewish community who say that because Iran is a threat to far more than Jews and Israel, we should not make Iran a Jewish or Israeli issue. However, when non-Jews hear the president of Iran both deny the Holocaust and say he wants to wipe Israel off the map and then they don't see the Jewish community rising up in protest, they wrongly conclude that Iran must not really be a threat." - The President of Iran has not denied that the Holocaust occurred, but he questions some of the details. It has also been established that the "wipe Israel off the map" was a poor translation, he did not say that (but some like to keep using it because it suits their purpose. Good PR?). It's also worth pointing out that Iran have not started a war in hundreds of years, can Israel say that?

Mizrahi "It is up to the Jewish community to do its part to educate American and European audiences about the frightening dangers posed by a radical regime in Iran aggressively pursuing nuclear weapons." - According to US intelligence, they are not doing this. And why is it less frightening for Israel to have nuclear weapons, a country that is constantly at war?

Mizrahi "And Iran is attempting to build up Hamas and prepare it to wage the same kind of war against Israel that Hezbollah did." - With homemade rockets, right!

Mizrahi "Iran could arm its missiles with nuclear warheads and fire them at Israel, as well as at European and Middle Eastern countries. Iran could share its nuclear weapons with Hezbollah, Hamas, Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups that seek to destroy Israel or to bring down the United States or Western civilization." - Oh My God! And if my grandmother had wheels she would be a wagon!"

"Mizrahi recommended that students emphasize the similarities between Americans and Israelis (without linking Israel too much with President Bush), avoid complicated explanations of Israel's actions, and feel comfortable calling members of the press to push stories about Israel."

"But Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, the Israel Project's president, said, "it's always been clear since the beginning that The Israel Project is about bringing more support for Israel." And
"The Israel Project is just like AIPAC," she said, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobby."

Executive Director, TIP Israel Operation: Marcus Sheff: "As a reserve officer in the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, Sheff was a prominent spokesperson for the IDF during all recent crises and trained senior IDF officers in media skills"

An interesting video: Media bias about the Israeli - Palestine conflict EXPOSED!

This is the longest article I have ever written (on any subject), but I feel it is necessary to cover as many areas as possible to explain the point I'm trying to make.

We can also ask ourselves WHY Israel feels it is necessary to spend so much time and money on forcing people to like it, what other country does that (or needs to)? Wouldn't it be better to discover the reasons for the hatred, rather than trying to "buy" friends?

The most SERIOUS problem I see with the tactics being used is the backlash that ordinary Jews all other the world might face from all of this. We have already seen attacks on Jews in other countries because of the actions of Israel in Gaza, Jews that probably do not support it and just want to have a normal life. Thousands have demonstrated (including Jews) and the "public" feeling is that it is wrong!

For God's sake, put an end to these "brainwashing" tactics, stop being so paranoid about Iran, swallow your pride and share the land with the Palestinians and let's see some peace for a change. If you can do that, people won't need to be forced to like you, it will happen automatically, of that you can be sure!

Throughout history Jews have frequently been the target for hatred, and why? Are people born with an inbuilt hatred of Jews? Of course not! There must be a reason and that reason is being repeated again today. It has nothing to do with religion; it is about a very small minority of Jews who crave power and control, an obsession that has always hurt their own people. Isn't it time to change history and let the majority of Jews live in peace?

Sadly, the Israeli "PR" will probably block this message from reaching a wide audience and you can be sure numerous articles will appear to counter it (just in case). Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, founder and president of The Israel Project said "the organization supports free speech", we shall see, won't we.

Ian Brockwell writes straight talking, honest stories that engage readers. Contact Ian through NewsBlaze or his News Page.