DUBAI: Contracts filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act have revealed the reach of a sprawling, state-backed media campaign, funded by an additional $150 million approved last year, for Israel’s foreign ministry to polish the country’s tarnished reputation.
The campaign, known in Hebrew as Hasbara, comes as Israel’s military operation in Gaza, launched in retaliation for the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, has been widely branded an act of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Major public relations firms now face accusations of whitewashing Israel’s behavior.
Recent FARA disclosures uncovered a highly coordinated, tech-driven propaganda operation through the German division of Havas Media Group — one of the world’s largest advertising firms — and a network of politically connected American PR agencies.
The strategy aims to flood the internet with content crafted to reshape global perception of Israel, particularly among US and European audiences, as images of civilian casualties and razed neighborhoods in Gaza continue to dominate headlines and social media.
