Israel's "Lousy PR"

JINSA
Report: #1,002
30 June '10

In a strange conversation, a journalist called to ask how badly Israel's image had been damaged by the flotilla incident. Our first thought was, "Not as badly as if the precedent was set for ships to land in Gaza without Israeli inspection, or if the millions of Euros in their pockets had actually reached Hamas." But that wasn't what he was asking. He really wanted to know whether countries or people who had previously "liked" Israel "liked" Israel less now, and if Israel would have "done better" if it could have explained itself better.

It was, in fact, the dreaded "Israel's lousy PR" question.

In a second strange conversation, an admittedly cynical diplomat told us to disregard the posturing anti-Israel statements at the European Parliament, the UN Human Rights Commission and other international bodies. "People don't really know anything, they just say things." But, he added, Israel couldn't expect to get a fair shake in those places because it doesn't spend enough time making its case to European diplomats.

Again, "Israel's lousy PR," was the issue, not the reality of the Arab/Islamic threat to Israel or the reality of Israel's defense.

Our belief is that the flotilla incident actually made people and countries behave more like themselves.

There are those inclined to dislike Israel for ethnic or religious reasons; or because they see only the limited view of Israel their media-controlling governments want them to see; or because they reflexively support people who look sad.

There are those, on the other hand, who are inclined to appreciate the difficulties of Israel in the Middle East and find in Israel a like-minded, democratic ally under attack by radical forces that also threaten the West. This group often includes post-Soviet countries including Poland and the Czech Republic, and in this case includes Italy and The Netherlands.

And there is a third type, those who travel in groups or packs - among them the media, Western Europeans, and left-wing Democrats - who don't necessarily want Israel to disappear; and who do in fact understand the substance of Israel's difficulties; and who would never think of themselves supporting Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran; but who can't defend Israel in public because it isn't fashionable; but won't condemn it more than absolutely necessary; and will still do business with Israel where they find it useful. Cynical diplomats often find themselves here.

(Read full report)

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