Facing global hate, Israel launches new public diplomacy program

The Israeli government approved the "Masa Diplomacy" program on Tuesday, a new initiative within the existing 'Masa' project, designed to equip young Jewish individuals from the Diaspora with tools for advocating for Israel internationally. This program, proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, aims to counter rising antisemitism, delegitimization, and disinformation. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, "Israel's struggle today is waged not only on the battlefield, but also on the front of international public diplomacy." The program will offer six weeks of training in advocacy and public diplomacy, including workshops and meetings with experts, for approximately 70 participants aged 21-40, with NIS 1 million allocated for scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. It builds on a successful pilot program and seeks to strengthen participants' connection to Israel and the Jewish people.