Israel has a right to defend itself on the information battlefield too – editorial

This editorial argues that Israel, like any other nation, has a right to self-defense, not only militarily but also in the realm of public opinion. It criticizes a double standard applied to Israel when it engages in public diplomacy, unlike other countries that routinely shape perceptions through various media. Recent articles in Time and The Wall Street Journal highlighted Israel's efforts to modernize its public-diplomacy campaign by utilizing AI, social media, influencers, and podcasters, which the editorial defends as legitimate and necessary. The article states, "Israel is 'trying to shore up its US reputation with help from influencers, Trump insiders and millions of AI-driven texts.'" It emphasizes that these actions are appropriate as long as they comply with laws like the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The editorial concludes that Israel's increased investment in public diplomacy, especially after the October 7 massacre, is a long-overdue and imperative step to counter negative narratives and reach younger audiences.