“Israel is moving from defense to offense on hasbara,” Hotovely said Sunday.
By HERB KEINONUpdated: APRIL 4, 2016 23:15Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Film a successful hasbara video and win valuable cash prizes.That, at least, is the newest Foreign Ministry plan to boost Israel’s public diplomacy, announced this week by Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely.“Israel is moving from defense to offense on hasbara,” Hotovely said on Sunday, in announcing the plan.“From the beginning of my tenure in the ministry, I have met many Israelis who want to contribute to the hasbara efforts, and this is the first time we will enlist anyone who wants to help,” she said.In a couple of months, the ministry will launch a video competition with two categories that will be open to people from around the world. One category will be for anyone who wants to participate, and the other for professional organizations active in the field.According to a statement from Hotovely’s office, the brief videos will deal with a number of pre-selected issues, such as Jerusalem and “lying Palestinian propaganda.”The winners, who will win a “respectable” cash prize, will be announced at a ceremony in Jerusalem.“I think this is an opportunity for many people in Israel and among its supporters around the world to contribute their skills to change the discussion [about Israel] in the world, thereby contributing to Israel’s standing,” she said.