Israel Hikes 'Public Diplomacy' Budget, Calls It Not Propaganda
The Israeli government recently announced a nearly fivefold increase in its 'public diplomacy' budget, ballooning to $729 million next year. This, they claim, is merely to present their narrative more effectively. Conveniently, this surge comes as international condemnation for actions in Gaza mounts and the ICJ investigates genocide allegations. For decades, entities like AIPAC have spent
millions influencing US policy—$3.9 million in lobbying in 2023 alone, according to OpenSecrets.org. Now, Israel is directly pouring hundreds of millions into 'explaining' itself globally. One might wonder if this hefty expenditure is designed to counter inconvenient facts or simply to ensure that certain 'facts' are heard above the din of civilian death tolls and destroyed infrastructure. The
timing, of course, is purely coincidental. After all, a nation under scrutiny for alleged war crimes just needs a bigger microphone, not a change in foreign policy.