Thank you for your intelligent response. Nevertheless, when it comes to the challenges our nation faces daily, especially challenges from the Muslim world which has threatened our country with genocide 3 times in the last 60 years and holds an overwhelming bias against our existence, we are rarely, if ever, given the chance for 2-way communication to take place. Our message does not go through because international dialogue on the issue rarely focuses on facts and history and our very own politicians subvert our national interests. The world simply shuts its ears to what our nation has to say because they don't like it and the Euro-Lefty elite in this country is too busy trying to emulate the West to defend our country. The facts that our 60 year old country absorbed over 750,000 refugees from Arab countries, spends ridiculous amounts of it's GDP in defense, has survived 4 attempted genocides and yet still has the highest standard of living in the Middle East (which is enjoyed by all citizens, even Arabs) are unable to sink in because you have shut your mind, ears and heart to what we actually have to say.

even the non demecratic .uncevelian countries .people have rights .. right to live .right to eat .right to say . iam not with 39 exactly .but sure you are wrong about the others right .. human rights is for all humans cevilized or not .democratic or not

Wasn't it Peres who disbanded the hasbara, assuring Israel that the world would respect her through her good and generous deeds, after implementing the Oslo accords? Seems to me, Mr Peres is behind much of the decisions that have now come back to haunt israel in a very tragic and murderous accounting. I believe its time to follow the money trail. When we see who "donates" to the politicians and uncover the financial contributors to the media and educators, as #18 has masterfully compiled, many of the mysterious puzzle pieces will fall obviously into place. There are treason laws on the books for ceding Israeli land, how about enforcing these laws?. I very much admire your interaction with the talk backers. You are my favorite Ynet contributor. I look forward to your follow up article with concrete suggestions. Please include actions, we in the Diaspora can also contribute with. Thank you. Brooke

arabs hate israil becouse they are arabs moslemes hate israil becouse they are moslemes .world hate israil becouse it is israil .but believe me i do not hate any one .i have interested to post .and say what i see

If only this message would be read and absorbed by more Israelis! The world sees the Arab spin-doctors as quiet, polite, sharply dressed. The Israeli reps are blunt to the point of rudeness, and offend almost all of the time. Too bad our politicians did not have the foresight to use the billions they spent on that useless eyesore "bridge", on some drastically needed PR!!

Maybe it's not bigger and better PR that Israel needs so much ...as a change in culture...Being arrogant, course, rude and offensive doesn't make your case..Just read the postings here and take notice.. However, I'm sure most will deny the fact and continue to blame others..as Projection seems always be your defense... It's sad when you can't accept criticism and continue to whine the same complaines adnauseam. We've heard it all before and for a thousand years.. TATA

Three things. 1. The prescription the author's suggest would have Israel as the little country that keeps saying no to the West (who send fat pay checks regularly) and even embarrassing their diplomatic efforts and casting aspersion on their authority. I don't see how that would improve Israel's PR campaign. 2. This sounds like a fascist conspiracy theory and is borderline racist in its generalisations of Arabs. 3. While indeed the first paragraph is true that given Israel's pluses (democracy etc) it should be popular the author looks over the root of Israel's PR failure. The Occupation. Send out as many half-naked girls in quasi-IDF uniforms to the ladmags the people in the West will all tune into the YouTube video of a solider shooting a Pal at a point-blank range or of a settler beating a Pal with a stick. The websurfers and small town papers will find an article on how a the deputy mayor of an Israeli town burnt hundreds of copies of the New Testament in a public gathering infinitely more intriguing than an article on how Israel manufacturers the most water efficient drip irrigation systems in the world. I won't go into how Israel is still famous for having a President that raped his secretaries I am afraid it is an uphill struggle because Israel is a very ugly place politically.

Unfortunaly, talking straight can take detractors by surprise. The people of Israel will eventually have to decide their fate, clearly, transparantly and with courage. The next generation will be able to do this with greater ease. The price of explaining to our children, what political/national/civic, considreations their grandparents thought of as noble will seem as it does to many at present; foolish, mis-guided, and without merit. Clarity, confidence, progress, responsiblity, these are the foundations that will guide a solid Jewish Democratic State foward. Bernard Shaw: qouted by RFK, many times: said criticism, apathy, and hatred can take the majority of societies and individual freedoms into the abyss. Leaving its victims to ask "Why?" "Dreaming of a world that never was, and Saying Why Not?" takes real bravery in the face of a not so friendly world, ruling most of its citizenry by tyranny. To the rest of the world it should be known and heard loud and clear. All of the above mentioned characteristics and many others, are in no short supply, amongst all Israelis under 40. There is our strength. And unlike our politicans it cannot be bought, manipulated, or negotiated. Just as a mother would not be expected to negotiate away one of her kid's even if the price posted in the world market seemed fair. I'm not giving up any of mine, sitting down. Shame on you people, for asking us to give up our fundanmental rights and negotiate with avdversaries that glorify killing our children, and don't leave by either of our minimum standards. In case you haven't or don't wan't to see that is exactly whats going on. Bear to hear to hear you're own truths projected back. J'accuse.

but if you are Arab Christian or Muslim , you know very well the hate for jews is all around you .

Martin Sherman's column is excellent, but he fails to mention two other key issues. First, because Israel's Arab/Moslem foes cannot win on the battlefield or economically, the only weapons they have left are terrorism and propaganda efforts aimed at demonizing Isreal. They have been concientously working hard on the latter since the 1980s at least. I have seen this myself on college campuses here in the U.S.; what I've seen here I'm sure is all over campuses around the world. Then there is the media in many western countries, which all too willingly, hook, line and sinker, buys the Arab line (and is 'bought' into doing so, I'm sure, by Arab bribe money). During the Cold War, the Soviets pursued a policy of what they called "active measures" aimed at co-opting media and journalistic elements in the West to toe their line; this cost them, by their own admission, about $50 million a year. That lines a lof of pockets, subsidizes a lot of campus activists, prints a lot of leaflets and posters, is very low risk (anyone caught taking their money would have their reputation ruined, but would hardly suffer any other penalties), and has a big potential payoff in public opinion. I have seen figures of expenditures of $70 BILLION by the Saudis alone -never mind the other Gulf states, Iran, etc., aimed at both obscuring the sorry and appalling realities of their own societies, and of course, demonizing Israel. Look at all the "Chairs of Middle Eastern Studies" they endow at campuses around the world. Look at all the academics and journalists coming out of the woodwork to demonize Israel at every opportunity...what do any of them have to gain from this, absent "encouragement" (read: $$$) from the 'other side'??!! Israel and her supporters around the world - particularly otherwise overwhelmingly pro-Israel Jews in the U.S. - have been complacent in the face of this effort, and only now are waking up to the scale and scope of the activities described above. Second, to the extent that many in academic and journalistic circles in the West are only too eager to jump on the anti-Israel bandwagon, much of this relfects the political-cultural legacy of the Vietnam era here in the U.S, and the cultural aftermath of the parallel postwar decolonialization era in Europe. We are now in a period of history where a large portion of the 'intellectual elites', as an article of faith...have no faith in anything! Patriotism, religion, the guideposts of conviction that inform what is worth fighting for beyond immediate material interests, what really makes our civilization "civilized" at it's core, are roundly scoffed at by the self-appointed "sophisticates" on college campuses, editorial staffs, etc., throughout the western world. These academics, journalists, and jurists in Israel who behave as Mr. Sherman descibes, they are only taking their cues from their colleagues around the Western world. They would be laughed out of cocktail parties with their counterparts in New York, Chicago, London, Paris, etc., if they behaved in any other way! Mr. Sherman, the problem runs very deep indeed. You only describe the tip of a very deep iceberg of civilizational depravity and decadence whose roots are strongest in the "chattering classes" you identify, not only in Israel, but throughout the Western world. But keep up the good work!

Please don't quote UN resolutions as history has shown that your government only respects those resolutions that work in its favor. Also, as a historian you should know that Fatah recognizes Israel. It's Hamas that does not and the occupation fuels organziations like Hamas, so something should be changed to starve them of their peoples support. More human suffering and yes, Palestinians are human beings, will not work to achieve that goal. Finally, Americans and other Western peoples are dieing everyday in an attempt at bringing peace to your region, are you implying that your peoples lives are more valuable than ours?

1. You write: "…you should know that Fatah recognizes Israel. It's Hamas that does not" Oh really! Perhaps you should take the trouble to look at the CURRENT VERSION of the Fatah Constitution (which unlike the Palestinian National Charter has never been changed – or even claimed to have been changed) : ARTICLE 12: sets the following Goal :Complete liberation of Palestine, and eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence , ARTICLE 19 explains the Method by which this Goal is to be attained : Armed struggle is a strategy and not a tactic, and the Palestinian Arab People's armed revolution is a decisive factor in the liberation fight and in uprooting the Zionist existence, and this struggle will not cease unless the Zionist state is demolished and Palestine is completely liberated . See http://middleeastfacts.com/middle-east/the-fatah-constitution.php#Goals So clearly BOTH organizations call for the destruction of Israel. (If anything the Fatah is even more explicit in this regard). The only difference is that while one organization formulates its aspirations to destroy Israel in religious terms, the other does so in more secular ones. This, however, cannot obscure the fact that both are immutably committed to erase any trace of Zionism (i.e. Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people) from the face of the Earth. The one, Hamas, strives to destroy Israel in the name of Islam. The other, Fatah, strives to destroy Israel in the name of “Armed Revolution”. 2.Your write: "…the occupation fuels organziations like Hamas " Really, Thundercloud65. what a stange thing to say!! After all, it was only subsequent to the REMOVAL of Israeli presence in Gaza and the obliteration of the "cruel, oppressive" settlements (i.e. the end of "Occupation" ) that the Hamas swept Fatah from power. In fact most experts concur that the only thing Fatah keeping more or less in power in the "West Bank" is … the IDF presence there (i.e. the "Occupation forces"). Without this the Gaza scenario would quickly be repeated and the Hamas would take over in a very short time. Pls note that ever since Israel left Gaza, the Palestinian show no sign that they have any inclination or ability to set about establishing a stable productive civil society. They are much too busy smuggling and stockpiling weapons, bombarding civilian populations inside the undisputed border and – oh yes – throwing each other of multi-storied buildings in a grim display of fratricidal frenzy. What could possibly motivate you to think that this would not occur – on a much larger scale – once Israel leaves the "West Bank" Perhaps, dear Thundercloud65, you should consider reassessing your grasp of the facts… and your formula for peace

It took 30 years to build the beautiful communities of Gush Katiff; it took 2 days to destroy it and by none other than the unJewish government. The Arabs thank you. It has taken 60 years to build a beautiful country. Countless lives were lost defending it, and everyone of us who live there, have sacrificed for it. If the leftists and the idiots like #2 and others in America continue to ignore the situation, it will take no time for Israel to be no more. God forbid.

Martin Sherman, you bring up the fact that America initially opposed DISENGAGEMENT to rule out American pressure as a cause for it. America's opposition in that case was tactical. The broader issue is did America pressure Israel to originally accept the principle of a "Palestinian state", which was the predicate for DISENGAGEMENT? On October 2, 2001, U.S. President George Bush said: "The idea of a Palestinian state has always been part of a vision, so long as the right to Israel to exist is respected." www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/10/20011002-1.html This seems to be the first documented instance President Bush referred to a "Palestinian state" as President. [Bush became president on January 20, 2001.] It also appears to be false since a "Palestinian state" had not always been the vision of America or Israel (recall a "Palestinian state" was specifically excluded from Resolution 242), though it had been mentioned in the Mitchell Report earlier in 2001. It is common knowledge that the current Bush is the first president to advocate a "Palestinian state," instead of outright rejecting it or letting the parties decide as I believe President Clinton had done. Perhaps in reaction to President Bush's October 2nd statement above regarding a "Palestinian state," PM Sharon issued a statement a couple of days later, in which he said: "Do not try to appease the Arabs at our expense," warning that Israel, quote, "will not be Czechoslovakia." The Bush Administration quickly came out and denounced PM Sharon's statement, and added that the President's October 2, 2001 statement was similar to the one PM Sharon had said previously on September 24, 2001: "Israel wants to give the Palestinians what no one else has given them, the possibility of establishing a state." [Sharon became Prime Minister on March 7, 2001.] http://www.usembassy-israel.org.il/publish/peace/archives/2001/october/10061.html It thus appears from the public record that PM Sharon supported a "Palestinian state" first. In my next post [P.2], I will turn to what the investigative journalists purport, which shows a completely different chronology.

Elsa Walsh alleges in "The Prince" that on August 27, 2001 Prince Bandar delivered an ultimatum to Washington that would have upset U.S.-Saudi relations in reprisal for perceived American acquiescence or support for Israeli anti-terror operations. President Bush purportedly wrote a conciliatory letter in response dated August 29, 2001 in which he advocated a "Palestinian state" for the first time, in which he stated: "I firmly believe that the Palestinian people have a right to self-determination and to live peacefully and securely in their own state in their own homeland." Bush in a meeting shortly thereafter purportedly agreed that he would make his support for a "Palestinian state" public. Then, the 9-11 attacks occurred, and the "Palestinians" danced on the rooftops when they heard. This appears to have delayed the Bush Administration's first public statement on a "Palestinian state" until October 2, 2001, which I quoted in the previous post. http://www.think-israel.org/walsh.prince.html [I have read other accounts, for example Woodward, on the same incident, and some minor details differ in each account. I do not believe the Bush Administration has ever confirmed the story, and we might not know until the documents are declassified decades from now.] This then rearranges our chronology, and we are forced to ask the following questions: 1. Between August 27, 2001 when the Saudi ultimatum was allegedly issued and August 29, 2001 when President Bush came out for a "Palestinian state" in the private letter to the Saudis, did he receive PM Sharon's pre-approval? 2. Did Sharon as prime minister make any statement in support of a "Palestinian state" prior to Bush's private letter [I do not have access to the Hebrew language sources]? I heard Sharon in the late-90's or early 2000's (I think Prof. Eidelberg mentioned this fact) made statements in support of a "Palestinian state," but I think there is a big difference between a personal opinion and public policy. 3. Did American pressure force PM Sharon to make the conciliatory statements in favor of a "Palestinian state" on September 24, 2001, which I quoted in the previous post? And did America pressure PM Sharon to incrementally adopt a stronger policy in favor of a "Palestinian state" in the months subsequent, even at the cost of Israel's security? Though it might appear counterintuitive, the DISENGEMENT in this context might have been PM Sharon's gamble to take some of the pressure off forming a "Palestinian state" right away. I seem to recall this is the rationale that Weissglass gave. Going back a decade, in regards to Olso, Prime Minister Rabin might have been naive, but on the ratification of the Israel-Palestinian Interim Agreement in the Knesset on October 5, 1995 he stated: "We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority." www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=20239 If he had not been assassinated soon afterwards, who knows if he would have continued with the Oslo process after its repeated violations by the "Palestinians," or if he would have succumbed to suspected U.S. pressure? On a related subject Giuliani stated: "The US pushed Israel to make concessions [as part of the Oslo process before the Palestinians fulfilled any of their requirements], and it didn't matter that the Palestinians did nothing to live up to their end of the bargain. This was wrong and we should never do it again." http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com/a/jvo200704d.html In conclusion, Martin Sherman, I think your thesis has to add into the equation suspected American pressure, which perhaps you are in a better position to investigate.

It's over twenty years that we share this view, Martin. The 64,000 $ question is, assuming that all you say is correct, how do we generate the will, courage, understanding and readiness to act so that "mountains can be moved" back to realistic Zionism ? There is The Key.Yoash

You know my theory. I think the US sometimes plays off the elitist culture in the Israeli media or legal institutions in order to pressure Israeli prime ministers to make concessions. For instance they may leak corruption accusations to them, and a prime minister in order to stay in power makes the concessions that the elites desire.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127287

I presume you are talking about yourself in that you had no right to steal the land you now occupy.

People who hate Israel cannot be convinced to jettison their hatred by any amount of truthful facts. They want to believe we 'stole' another people's land (when the exact opposite is the truth); that we are perpetrating genocide against the 'native people' (though they are not the natives - we are - and although they have been threatening us with another Holocaust for decades with statements such as: 'we will finish off what Hitler started..."); that we terrorize them; that we start all the wars with our neighbours; that we poison their water; purposely shoot their children (who THEY use as homicide-bombers and human shields); plant genocidal rats in their homes, etc., etc. They want to hate us, libel us, incite against us and no facts will make them budge one inch. That's the Nazi mentality.

Interesting your theory that "without that occupation....it would be much, much easier to sell Israel abroad..." As the Arabs consider ALL of Israel, including Haifa, not just Judea (such an Arabic, Islamic name is it not...?) and Samaria as occupied territory, the only way we could bring an end to 'that occupation' is for people like you to leave occupied Haifa, and the rest of us leave the places we are 'occupying' (e.g. Tel Aviv) and, as Darwish urged, taking our dead with us 'back to' wherever (into the sea, preferably...). That way for sure we would not need 'a real long-term foreign and interior policy whereby to 'much easier sell Israel abroad..." As there just would no longer be an Israel to sell abroad, now would there? It's about time that silly dopes like you woke up to the fact that the only Occupation in this Land of Israel, is that of the Arabs/Moslems. They came from Saudia Arabia, invaded the entire MidEast 1,500 years ago, slaughtering the infidel natives if they refused to convert to islam, but allowing repressed minorities of Jews & Christians to live as highly taxed 'dhimmis'. Thus the Arabs are the Occupying forces from Morocco to Iraq and it's about time they returned to their desert homeland now known as Saudi Arabia. That way the MidEast conflict would come to an end and justice would have been done and seen to be done.

Good points to consider

Martin-there is nothing to add-you have said it all and I agree with you on every issue. Your language and thought process is very advanced and the subject should be capsulated and written as an article in the Hebrew and English press. We are losing our dignity and playing into the hands of the arabs and the left-where will this en

Well said. No organization seems to do more damage to Israel than the Israeli government, especially in the area of hasbara. The only feasible choice I can see is a well funded private organization to do hasbara in its place.

It is clear that Israel has failed in one of the most important war against arabs, which is the media war. The total lack of appropriate response to the arab propaganda is a shame and endanger even the very existence of Israel. The leftists have controle on the Justice system, on the medias and on the army and refuse to show the real face of the arabs because it contradicts their ideology of self hatred jews and appeasement of the enemy. Their only purpose is to please the occidentals and be considered as "good jews", since being a good jew means to not defend itself against the continuing attempt from our foes to "erase us from the map". Dear Mr Sherman I appreciate very much your interferences in the talkbacks, u seems honest and open to dialogue. How is it possible to join u ?....thanks.

needs to have a blog or website. His ideas are right on and he could exercise great influence among the regular Israeli citizen (let's forget about the elite) in order to fight back.

As a cross reference to this column, please read David Bedein's "PR Success for Israel's Enemies" about the Free Gaza Movement and how Israel's enemies managed create a network of popular support for terrorists. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/8195

I agree that, just as in the US, there are powerful people who pull the strings of government. That being the case, why not expose these people publicly? One can not cure an illness without know what the illness is. It would be my guess that the publishers of several news media, some professors of Social Studies and, perhaps, some real estate mogols are the controlling factor.