News  Magazine
Comment posted, damage done: Online battle for Israel's hasbara
Eyal Lehmann
Published: 18.09.13, 19:04
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
82 Talkbacks for this article
1. There are Many of us that Spread Truth
Netanya ,   Netanya   (09.18.13)
As one of the people who spends time doing talkback and sending around every rocket attack and having a big following on twitter, FB and You Tube, can say that our time and writing makes a difference. Some people have told me that they read something that I wrote, looked into the situation and found that Israel is unrepresented or represented in a false way in the media. We can turn this around with information. I wish I could get paid, since it takes time and there is no financial gain (makes it hard to do it for hours and hours, since I need to make a living too.) I would love to spend more time supporting Israel in the media and fighting the false information that is so rampant in the media of today.
2. Israeli diplomats should post more
Wade ,   NYC USA   (09.18.13)
Israeli consular officials in different countries should consider hasbara through local talkbacks to be a high priority obligation of their jobs. They get paid to do this work and they are on the job all year long.
3.  HASBARA : A RAP
DA RAP ARTIST ,   SAFED RAP HOUSE   (09.18.13)
Yo ,don't respond to slander ,do not pander ,nor counter with propaganda ,don't be uncouth , no need to tell ignorant youth da truth , live your life da best , just remember Life aint no popularity contest , who gives a damn if they detest ,let these fools protest, The rain in spain falls mainly on da plain ,and we do not have to explain :"If you can keep yo head when all about you ,are losing theirs and blaming it on the jews , if you can trust yoself when others doubt you ,make make allowance for their doubting too , if you can dream and not make dreams yo master ,if you can think and not make thoughts your aim , if you can meet with Triumph and Disister..and treat those two imposters mofos the same . If you can fill da unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run ,yours is the world and everything that's in it ,and you' ll be a man my son.
4. Pathetic Israel
(09.18.13)
5. 31st Anniversary of Sabra and Shatilla
Ivor Evenbiggergun   (09.18.13)
There will always be an anniversary, a reminder, clearing the Morroccan quarter of Jerusalem, putting Gazans on a diet, the hilltop youth rampaging through Palestinian olive groves, Palestinian children being shot through the head whilst sat in a classroom, bombing schools with phosphorous, preventing the Red Crescent from rescuing two boys huddled with their dead mothers for two days. Israel's problem now is that in an instant the whole world knows, for instance last night an unarmed Palestinian was killed in Jenin. The days when The Bulldozer could raze Palestinian villages without the world knowing are long gone, problem is Israeli politicians still haven't realised.
6.  there is nothing like time waters
ky   (09.18.13)
In the end it internet graffiti gets forgotten about pretty quickly. Can anyone recall a what particular bombast Sarah B wrote last week? On the other hand the millions of wasted man hours the pals and their supporters are putting into screaming hysterical abuse keeps them out of mischief. Dont expect a reply I've already wasted two minutes typing this.
7. #3 That is exactly what the Israeli
Sarah B ,   Tel Aviv/London   (09.18.13)
ambassador to the United Kingdom attempted to do. He gave up after 6 months stating that the argument in the UK has been lost. Any other ideas would be gratefully received
8. This was Israeli govts job and they did NOTHING for 30 years
Too little ,   Too late   (09.18.13)
Impossible for civilians to make up for lack of effort by the government itself.
9. Perhaps the reason Israel is losing the 'hasbara' battle...
Edithann ,   Miami, USA   (09.18.13)
is because the truth is on the other side. There is only so long that you can tell people to ignore what they see, hear and read because somehow Israel, as a "Jewish" state, has a corner on truth. When you begin to call any criticism of Israel "antisemitic", you have lost the battle. Anf this iincessant use of the Holocaust to give license for present day discrimination and brutality is a concept unworthy of anyone with half a brain. Amazing how Zionists keep shooting themselves in the foot. By the way, is this post antisemitic? TATA
10. I think that many pro-pal supporters...
Malone ,   Hfx   (09.18.13)
...are simply un informed...they get their info from left wing news sources.that simply lie and distort facts...these are people that have to be turned around.
11. I write
fred ,   USA   (09.18.13)
I go to Al Jaz. a lot and note the many anti-Israel comments, often on issues not even involving Israel! I now simply say:"Name one Muslim run nation in the Middle East that has had a true Arab Spring.And for those not even attempting, what are those governments like? Look to yourself and stop blaming Israel for your shortcomings.
12. Israeli leftist media source of most destructive propaganda
Chaim ,   Israel   (09.18.13)
The world can't and won't respect those who don't respect themselves. How can Israel expect the world to condemn "Palestinian" terror when Israel frees these murderers and calls them "peace partners"? The opinions of Jew haters is not the real problem. The real problem is the self hatred of Israeli leftists, and those, like Bibi, who collaborate with them. Much Anti-Israel propaganda comes straight form the pages of the leftist Israeli media.
13. #4 Have you read the article?
Tahl   (09.18.13)
Are quotes like "Hitler should come back and destroy you", OK with you? Is Holocaust denial OK with you? Is the justification of the Fogel family massacre, OK with you? Are crazy blood libel like "Israel is committing ethnic cleansing/genocide", or that Israel is butchering Palestinian families every day, or that Israel is aiding Jihadists in Syria, OK with you? If you say "yes" to any of these questions, then obviously you are a blind, consummate Israel-hater and communicating to you is a waste of time. If however you agree that none of these statements is legitimate, then you must admit that these hasbara warriors do an important job. If you had bothered to read the article, you'd have seen that they do not justify anything Israel does, they just clean out the muck.
14. NO NEED FOR HASBARA
TEL EM STRAIGHT ,   SAFED CYNIC HOUSE   (09.18.13)
The Land of Israel is our land.Jewish Land for ever .If some people don't like that fact ,they can kiss my arse.
15. Saudis
Bill Stein ,   USA   (09.18.13)
How did you find out about the Saudi Talkbacker? He is extreamely brave. In any respects thanks to him. To other takbackers You have to use false names to protect yourself from radicals because of the numerous physical threats. That we pro Israeli talk backers get.
16. War Room Bourdain
Bill Stein ,   USA   (09.18.13)
Nice war room where where were you guys when I was fighting against BDS onslaught on the Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown Facebook page over the Jerusalem show. The Free Gaza Movement were on there celebrating their victory.
17. #9. Truth is 100% on Israel
Chaim ,   Israel   (09.18.13)
18. Israel has lost big time!
Non Jewish immigrant ,   Haifa   (09.18.13)
You have called cristiscms of Israel and Zionism "antismetism" so many times that this word became meaningless and flat. You have hidden behind the victim card so often that it became transparent. You can fool a bunch of ignorant people but you can't fool the whole world. You lost big time!
19. hasbara is dead -honesty and open conversations the cure
avramele   (09.18.13)
I work alot with Americans engaged in promoting Israel with the under 35 set. The problem they see is the lack of openness and honesty in the discussion. We should help the world see the Jewish state for what it is, faults and all, and what it can be at its best. We must speak openly of the many conflicting realities while not losing sight of the wonderful potential of the zionist dream. Shlichim are sincere hardworking zionists but some of their bosses at the suchnut force them to be anything but their beautiful left or right or centrist selves and be salesmen for the latest quickie argument or excuse. In todays world people find their own information and know talkback forums for what they are: playgrounds for the ideologically rigid and angry souls. chag sameach to all!
20. #9. Truth is 100% on Israel's side.
Chaim ,   Israel   (09.18.13)
Israel's legal ownership of Judea and Samaria is so incontrovertible that even the P.A. won't debate it. MK Danny Ayalon challenged them to do so. Nearly 1,100 international law scholars recently presented the E.U. with proof Israel owns Judea and Samaria. That was one petition alone. The truth is 100% on Israel's side.
21. Israeli Diplomats Politions
Bill Stein ,   USA   (09.18.13)
The diplomats Israeli Goverment Politions Bibi Livni leftist need to quit undercutting Pro Israeli Talkbackers by not undercutting Israeli security legal security and religious rights and start fighting for Israel
22. Idiotann #9 and Gregg #18
Tahl   (09.19.13)
Are statements like, "Hitler should come back and destroy you", and "Israelis are doing to the Palestinians what the Germans did to them" - not considered antisemitic in your dictionary? Not surprising really. A Skunk will never be bothered by the stench of his fellow skunks.
23. 4 Pathetic
Tom ,   Toronto Canada   (09.19.13)
Pathetic response . Is that the best you can do Lol.
24. Actually ...
AJ - Raalte   (09.19.13)
it's not so much the young(ish) talk-backers featured in the article who spend most of their time doing battle on the WWW, but typically older people and especially pensioners. Myself, I have been defending Israel on talk-backs for almost 10 years, on various news sites, spontaniously, in Dutch and English. I'm a 65-year old non-Jewish Dutch citizen. My motto: Israel forever - warts and all.
25. 18
(09.19.13)
i wonder what is a looser like yourself doing in such a bright and genius country. you certainly do not fit the intelligence quotient in israel.
26. "We should focus on intelligent readers".
Chas. ,   Los Angeles   (09.19.13)
And of course we all know who the intelligent readers are.
27. One sure fire way to stop it:
Never a Dull Moment ,   USA   (09.19.13)
The way to stop the lies fast is to get a few good teams of sharp teethed attorneys, let them make whatever % they want, and have them institute absolutely massive liable and slander suits against the various media and writers who knowingly and negligently publish the lies. I promise you a few good finacial wipe outs and the entire industry will cut this nonsense out. The legal fees alone will be astronomical enough to cause the media to be far more prudent and careful to check the facts and vet the sources.
28. re: Italian Article
Blue ,   USA / Israel   (09.19.13)
Although it is certainly irritating and frankly annoying to constantly see deceptive / inaccurate anti-Israel online posts, we as Israelis / Zionists should stop being so sensitive to what other countries / ppl seem to think about us. First of all, their opinions are based on fictitious propaganda by the Arabs / anti-semites, and most importantly their viewpoints DONT MATTER and are INCONSEQUENTIAL. Lets focus our energy on things we can change / affect. Ppl have disliked us since time and memorial - we can argue / counter post til we are blue in the face but it won't make much of a difference. The more we ignore these silly anti-Israel comments the better.
29. Few stand against many...
Abraham ,   Sydney, Australia   (09.19.13)
I am one of them. Non-Jewish, but heavily pro-Israel. I am Zionist from a religious and political standpoint. I have had numerous arguments with anti-Israel commentators. Never once have I been faced with someone who can corner me, or prove my points wrong. Never once have I "lost" an argument, and you know why? Because my arguments are based on facts. Not on personal opinion or emotion. Facts do not lie.
30. Internet war against Israel starts with media
Ibrahim Al-Awal ,   Dearborn, USA   (09.19.13)
The New York Times has a strong anti Israel bias. The assumption is that NYT is "Jewish" and has strong support for Israel. There is nothing further from the truth: The NYT is most anti Israel paper together with the Guardian in UK. For example a Jewish professor Ian Lustick "Two State Illusion" NYT 9/14/2013 calls for dismantling of Israel and calls Jewish refugees from Arab countries Arab Jews. A book "Indicting Israel-NYT coverage of the Palestinian Israel conflict" give detailed NYT bias. The web feeds on "reliable" NYT. Yet 23 out of 24 articles there were grossly anti Israel. Israel should take hard line against journalists and newspaper , Jewish included, who trash Israel whenever possible. News have to be accurate, fair balanced and responsible and allowing criticism to be incorporated in article.
Next talkbacks
Back to article