Hasbara (Hebrew: הַסְבָּרָה, meaning "explanation") is Zionist propaganda aimed at external audiences. In addition to the Zionist government, private groups such as Christians United for Israel and StandWithUs are involved.[1]
History
The Ministry of Hasbara was established in 1974 with future Israeli prime minister and president Shimon Peres as its leader. It was dissolved the next year, and the Foreign Affairs Ministry is now in charge of hasbara.[1]
Current situation
In 2002 the former Israeli Minister of Education Shulamit Aloni expressed that antisemitism and the Holocaust is frequently used to silence dissent toward Israel's policies. "When from Europe someone is criticizing Israel then we bring up the Holocaust. When in [the US] people are criticizing Israel then they are antisemitic."[2]
In 2010 two Israeli groups, Yesha Council and My Israel, launched a course to teach participants how to edit Wikipedia articles to ensure that what is written on Israel is "Zionist in nature."[3][4]
In 2015, the Zionist Education Ministry started requiring all high school students to take hasbara courses before traveling abroad on school trips.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jessica Buxbaum (2023-05-11). "Israel's Latest Hasbara Scheme Enlists High School Students as Trolls against Palestine" MintPress News. Archived from the original on 2023-07-05.
- ↑ If Americans New (2002-10-14). "Former Israeli politician says anti-Semitism accusation a "trick" to deflect criticism of Israel". YouTube.
- ↑ Israel National News - Arutz Sheva (Aug 18, 2010). "Course: Zionist Editing on Wikipedia". YouTube.
- ↑ Rachel Shabi and Jemima Kiss (2010). "Wikipedia editing courses launched by Zionist groups" The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2024-02-08.