Israel Is Bleeding Support in the U.S. - and Pouring Tens of Millions Into Trying to Change That

[Ponietz]

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-06-18/ty-article/bleeding-support-in-u-s-over-failed-iran-war-israel-triples-its-influence-efforts-there/0000019e-db73-d2be-abbf-fbffca7b0000

Israel is deepening its influence efforts in the United States in a bid to halt the collapse of its standing among the conservative right.

Haaretz has learned that the Israeli government is paying over $40 million for an influence campaign aimed at Christian Republicans – three times the budget originally allocated to it. The campaign launched late last year, and it's now expanding and focusing its messaging on an attempt to justify the war in Iran. Documents filed with the U.S. Justice Department further reveal that Israel has signed a new contract with a New York production company to produce a pro-Israel digital storytelling campaign for it, at a cost of nearly $1 million.

Haaretz revealed last November that Israel had signed agreements worth millions of dollars with American content and media companies to run pro-Israel campaigns aimed at Christian conservatives on its behalf, against the backdrop of the plunge in support for Israel since the war in Gaza, including among segments of the public traditionally considered pro-Israel.

The central contract, worth $6 million, was signed with a public relations firm owned by Brad Parscale, who ran U.S. President Donald Trump's digital election campaigns in 2016 and 2020. In February, Haaretz exposed some of the products that the firm delivered, chief among them a network of propaganda sites featuring pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian content, designed to appear neutral and factual. The sites' central aim was to influence the answers provided by search engines and AI-based chatbots.

[Lovie777]

1. Not really..................

I look like this, Bibi is a war criminal so is shithole.

Most Americans are against what shithole and Bibi are doing and I believe many Israelis feels the same.

[Ponietz]

5. "Netanyahu is bleeding MAGA support"

Thus, Brad Parscale and $40 million dollars worth of MAGA bots.

A great way to improve our longstanding friendly relationship would be for Israel to uphold the rule of law. It should also release to the public any information it has pertaining to JE.

Instead, just an intensified propaganda campaign.

[AloeVera]

6. Israelis elected Bibi. Three times.

He was saved electorally by the war on Gaza because Israelis loved what he was doing there and for that were willing to overlook his corruption and creeping authoritarianism. The war as it was fought, in all its war-criming and starvation, teceived high approval by Israelis. They also supported the war on Iran and the invasion and destruction of south Lebanon.

Sure, there are a few leftists and brave peace advocates left in Israel but they are a vanishing minority in a country turning hard-right and more and more ethno-religious-nationalist and land-grabbing expansionist.

Bibi is a symptom, not the cause. Imho.

Israelis also love Trump. A lot.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/poll-finds-israelis-high-on-trump-while-rest-of-world-takes-dim-view-of-us-leader/

[Mossfern]

12. This is so sad to me

Are there really so few leftists and peace advocates?
I guess I need to do some reading.
All the Israelis I have known were left leaning.

Too bad that many of the victims of October 7th were "leftists".
Yes, I do know that there's incredible marketing in the US - especially in areas of Brooklyn that advocate making Aliah
and supporting and financing settlements in the West Bank - and reproducing at alarming rates.... and teaching their children hate.


IMHO the ultra Orthodox have been given too many passes in Israel.
However, I've noticed that many people do not recognize the genocidal wishes of many Palestinians and other Middle Eastern
Arab Muslims toward Israel and Jewish people - even before the issues arising in Gaza and the West Bank. They have been teaching their children hate far longer.

Just to be clear: I abhor Netanyahu, Likud and the right wing Orthodox in Israel (well any right wing zealots anywhere in the world)
What I HATE is Trump's forcing our country into war at the request of Bibi - lately a major contributor to the animus toward Jewish people. I also think that the history of the area has not been taught in a neutral voice in universities.
I have seen actions by some Israelis as reprehensible and a shanda.

It's late and I think I'm not making sense....

[MustLoveBeagles]

9. Bingo

[wcmagumba]

2. I like the Jewish people...The Jewish State, not so much...

[orthoclad]

7. I prefer to use "Zionist" for the state

I think it's important to maintain the distinction.

[PufPuf23]

3. "The Israeli government is paying over $40 million for an influence campaign aimed at Christian Republicans"

The Israeli government is not a friend of the Democratic Party nor most Americans.

"In February, Haaretz exposed some of the products that the firm delivered, chief among them a network of propaganda sites featuring pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian content, designed to appear neutral and factual. The sites' central aim was to influence the answers provided by search engines and AI-based chatbots."

[Cheezoholic]

4. Where do we draw the line between interference and influence in our most sacred right. The founders second biggest fear

Right after a self imposed king was foreign entities interfering in our elections thus eroding and even destroying the Republic. Those were the 2 biggest threats they saw to any Democracy. We have muddied the line between interference and influence so much anymore that they are one and the same. Always have been IMO. GO PLAY IN YOUR OWN SANDBOX!

[Johonny]

8. Bibi choose sides in our politics

And I feel okay to choose sides too. Fuck Bibi.

I don't see the difference in countries crapping on America because we voted Trump into office twice. At some point...

[purr-rat beauty]

10. Quite frankly....

....Iran seems to be the fan favorite around these parts

[SamuelTheThird]

11. They royally screwed the pooch

Polling showed moderate support for Israel after oct 7. Instead of a measured response, they went apeshit on Gaza. Then they pushed the war with Iran. I dont see any PR campaign helping them at this point. Even younger evangelical nutjobs aren't enthusiastic.