“Israel is a sovereign democracy that seeks peace, and Hamas are barbaric, antisemitic terrorists who thirst for Jewish blood,” said Public Diplomacy Minister Galit Distel Atbaryan. “We need the world, once and for all, to understand the true face of our enemies.”
Distel Atbaryan assumed her position shortly after the establishment of the new government. However, the primary objective of her office, which is to enhance Israel’s public image, has been marred by persistent turmoil. This instability has manifested through a constant staff turnover, significantly impacting the effectiveness of the ministry’s work.
But when Hamas initiated a conflict with Israel on Saturday, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,200 innocent lives, the Public Diplomacy Ministry immediately mobilized its resources and efforts.
Before Shabbat concluded, the ministry obtained Hamas footage and promptly initiated its dissemination across various social media platforms. Simultaneously, it harnessed the support of a vast network of influential figures worldwide, encompassing personalities from Hollywood and even renowned sports players, to amplify the reach of these messages.
“We opened a lot of groups with thousands of influencers worldwide, and we send them our key messages,” Distel Atbaryan told The Jerusalem Post. “Most of the time, we work under the radar and don’t take credit for our work.”
Atbaryan: pro-Israel window of opportunity is small
She said a famous TV sitcom actor from Australia and the head of a prominent NBA team are examples of people sharing ministry content.
Distel Atbaryan emphasized that her team acknowledges the current moment in the aftermath of this tragedy, during which global sentiment leans towards a pro-Israel perspective. She believes this window of opportunity is small but could enable her team to potentially reshape world opinion, shedding light on the genuine threats faced by Israel.
“Hamas did a wonderful job in explaining the narrative, their reality for the first time,” the minister said.
For decades, the West had been swayed by the Palestinian message, which portrayed a distorted narrative of occupation, the perception of Palestinians as victims, and the portrayal of Israel as imperialistic conquerors, according to Distael Atbaryan.
“The world is starting to realize that we are dealing with fundamentalists. They are not David, and we are not Goliath, but it is the other way around,” she said.
“Our messages have received millions and millions of views,” Distel Atbaryan concluded. “This could not happen without “our surgical and accurate work.”