Report says Israel hires Trump ally for multimillion-dollar US public relations campaign

Israel has initiated a multimillion-dollar public relations campaign in the United States to counter declining support for its policies, particularly concerning the Gaza conflict. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Israel signed a contract exceeding $45 million with Brad Parscale, an ally of former President Donald Trump. The comprehensive effort involves AI-powered messaging, digital outreach, and media campaigns. Key components include AI-generated text messages sent to millions of Americans by a group called 'Friends for Peace,' partnerships with conservative media, influencer engagement, and AI-optimized online content to improve Israel's image and influence AI chatbot responses. The report indicates Israel has engaged at least six firms and dozens of foreign agents for this outreach. This initiative follows Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's announcement last year of a $700 million allocation in the 2026 budget for global public diplomacy, coinciding with a Pew Research Center survey showing approximately 60% of US adults hold an unfavorable view of Israel.