I've received a lot of snotty static about making up stories about the coordinated effort by supporters of Israel.
"Extreme claims require extreme proof" goes one.
So here it is, again, for those who missed it in September. Keep in mind when they gang up on you that they are coordinated in a goal to drive negative opinion about Israel off the Internet, and it is true here too.
According to its own release, here's what they do: As Israel's "defensive" conflict against Hezbollah reached the end of its second week, The Israel Project's team in Haifa, working together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Communications Center, organized a visit for journalists to the Northern District Command Police Headquarters.
There they received a full briefing from senior police staff on northern Israel's home front, including a PowerPoint.
Very good, with comprehensive statistical data on the toll of Hezbollah missile attacks during the first 13 days of the war. Note the characterization of Israel's war as "defensive" and its single-minded focus on the "toll of Hezbollah's missile attacks" not civilian casualties on all sides.
You can bet they are not disseminating analysis from critical Israeli journalists or peace groups. (ZDnet)
TURNING THE PUBLIC INTO A MEGAPHONE Influencing the press is apparently no longer enough. The Israeli government, through its Consul General in New York, in what may be an illegal attempt by a foreign government to manipulate domestic public opinion, is now reaching out directly to the American public. It is an attempt to get Israel's supporters to become their "megaphone' in what's described as "a new battleground:" the Internet. Here's a direct solicitation from the Consulate received on July 24:
Dear friends,
Many of us recognize the importance of the Internet as the new battleground for Israel's image. It's time to do it better, and coordinate our on-line efforts on behalf of Israel. An Israeli software company have developed a free, safe and useful tool for us - the Internet Megaphone.
Please go to www.giyus.org, download the Megaphone, and you will receive daily updates with instant links to important internet polls, problematic articles that require a talk back, etc.
We need 100,000 Megaphone users to make a difference. So, please distribute this mail to all Israel's supporters.
Do it now. For Israel.
Amir Gissin
Director Public Affairs (Hasbara) Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem
World Press Coverage