Michael Oren: Israel fighting PR battle with decades old 'weapons'

• Published date: 13 October 2021
• Author: YONAH JEREMY BOB
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Speaking from The Jerusalem Post Conference's panel on law, money and legitimacy moderated by reporter Khaled Abu Toameh, Oren said, "we are fighting a fight with weapons that are 20-30 years old. The key ammunition in 'hasbara' [public relations] were facts [in the past]. Facts don't mean anything anymore. It's not about facts, it's about feelings."

He said that the Palestinians and Israeli critics can dilute their messaging down to a few words like: "occupation, apartheid, colonialism" and that Israel is stuck trying to explain its 4,000-year historical narrative and context.

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Instead, he said what has been more successful has been concrete actions, such as legislation in US states penalizing companies like Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, who boycotted Israel – or the Israeli settlements – back in July.

NGO Monitor Vice President Olga Deutsch said her organization's research exposing links of certain NGOs to terror groups had succeeded in "cuts in funding of $72 million."

She specifically noted recent probes by the EU, the Netherlands and Belgium of how public funds were being used by certain NGOs.

Deutsch also warned of a diverse toxic mix of anti-Israel activity crossing lines from grassroots groups to larger global entities like the International Criminal Court, saying NGOs try to hide behind these...