Hasbara: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:02, 25 October 2004

Revision as of 14:13, 25 October 2004

Line 21:

*The ''Israel Prime Minister's Office'' [http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng] releasing [[Press release|press releases]], speeches, "Government Press Office" [http://www.gpo.gov.il/], and the ''Israel [[President]]'s Office'' [http://www.president.gov.il/defaults/default_en.asp].

==Methods==

==Misrepresentations==

Some Hasbara documents explain propaganda techniques, claiming to be reporting on methods used by Palestinian activists, yet providing advice on how to use these very tactics in defense of Israel. For example, one organization describes its Hasbara effort at [http://www.wujs.org.il/activist/features/campaigns/propaganda_devices.shtml Seven Basic Propaganda Devices] as explaining ''"how each of these devices is used by Palestinian activists... to manipulate their audience....the article...gives ideas for countering these propaganda techniques, as well as a few more positive suggestions"'', yet advises the Hasbara activist reader on propaganda methods for his/her own use, such as the following:

Attempts have been made by anti-Israel propagandists to in equate Hasbara with propaganda through the fabriction and deliberate editing of Hasbara documents that teach people how to counter propaganda. As an example, an edited version of one organization's Hasbara effort at

[http://www.wujs.org.il/activist/features/campaigns/hasbara.shtml Seven Basic Propaganda Devices] which according to that organization: ''"explains how each of these devices is used by Palestinian activists... to manipulate their audience....the article...gives ideas for countering these propaganda techniques, as well as a few more positive suggestions"'' becomes transformed by anti-Israel propagandists (who have edited out the parts about dealing with Palestinian propaganda) so that it looks like Hasbara is ''promoting'' the very propaganda it is in fact countering. The fabricated edit has been posted on ''indymedia'' websites [http://vancouver.indymedia.org/news/2003/01/28174.php Vancouver Indymedia] [http://resist.ca/story/2004/8/11/225422/804 Resist.ca] [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/01/284723.html UK Indymedia] around the world. Many paragraphs are combined from separate pages on separate topics that have been edited down to make it look like Hasbara encourages propaganda. The editors admit that the posted fabrication is edited, but do not reveal that they make it look like Hasbara encourages propaganda, when in fact, the full article makes it clear that they are countering the propaganda techniques used by Palestinian activists.

:"For the Israel activist, it is important to be aware of the subtly different meanings that well chosen words give. Call 'demonstrations' "riots", many Palestinian political organizations "terror organizations", and so on."[http://www.wujs.org.il/activist/features/campaigns/propaganda_devices.shtml]

since, according to the article, "those opposed to Israel use name calling all the time."

An abridged version of this (clearly marked as such), with irrelevant sections relating to alleged Palestinian propaganda tactics removed, has been posted on ''indymedia'' websites [http://vancouver.indymedia.org/news/2003/01/28174.php Vancouver Indymedia] [http://resist.ca/story/2004/8/11/225422/804 Resist.ca] [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/01/284723.html UK Indymedia] around the world. Supporters of Hasbara have argued that this edited version is unfair, because many paragraphs are combined from separate pages on separate topics.

==External links==