For the first time in history, Jews can take part in war from home'

[azurnoir]

Benayahu revealed how he planted army officers as civilian commentators in foreign networks; called the IDF’s willingness to hit civilians ‘the surprise of war’; explained how he used Hillel and Chabad envoys to promote the army’s talking points, and praised the Israeli media for its ‘discipline’ during Operation Protective Edge. ‘The IDF Spokesperson’s unit is a combat unit with more influence than two divisions,’ he concluded.

But Benayahu was known not only for his initiative, but also for his aggressive approach to the media and journalists who were not his close associates, not to mention his often controversial methods of work. He didn’t hesitate, for example, to order IDF soldiers to confiscate work from journalists, only to release bits and pieces that served senior officers at the appropriate moment.

Another important initiative Benayahu implemented was using Israeli envoys belonging to religious institutions such as Chabad, as well as Jewish community centers abroad, for pushing the army’s talking points. This strategy also falls in line with the new approach in Israel, which views the diaspora and all of its institutions as a vessel for promoting and lobbying for Israeli policies. Benayahu explicitly refers to organizations such as Hillel as agents of the army’s PR machine, with Jews being asked to “participate in the war effort from home.” In fact, he even oversaw the development of a software dedicated to this purpose

In every war, all the Jewish communities around the world identify with the IDF. They raise and send us money and packages, they hold rallies in support of the army. [Now], for the first time in history, they can really take part in the war from their homes. With the tip of their fingers, they can contribute enormously to Israel’s hasbara.

http://972mag.com/for-the-first-time-in-history-jews-can-take-part-in-war-from-home/109087/

[azurnoir]

1. quote from Benayahu and even then he is careful to present the standard IDF line

" When it comes to hasbara you need to align your expectations with that of the public. […] the world says to us: ’The Bible is your book, the Jewish People’s morals are yours, the Declaration of Independence is yours, the IDF’s code of engagement, which you wrote. Everything you hang on the walls [The Declaration of Independence and the IDF’s moral code are shown in every army classroom – N.S.]. we [the world] won’t tolerate a gap between what you wrote and what is happening on the ground.

Therefore, we need to change the wall. What is important today is to explain to the world that are our civilians come first, our soldiers come second, their civilians come third, and in fourth place are their terrorists.

Because the world has gotten confused. The world is used to a situation where some will die here in order to save some of them.

In the past, one or two or three Hamas battalion commanders would travel to a meeting with a Hamas division commander — putting a woman on the left side window and a young girl on the right side window as they traveled would guaranty their safety. You don’t open fire, right? Today, we fire. The woman and the kid – gone. This is the surprise of Cast Lead."

[haikugal]

2. First time in history..??

I don't think so.

[PeoViejo]

3. Don't forget to register

as an agent of a foreign power first, or even better, go join the IDF, so you can have some skin in the game.

[azurnoir]

4. well that would defeat the apparent purpose

[oberliner]

5. The first time in history?

Absolutely clueless.

[Little Tich]

6. I'm slightly uncomfortable with the article title and what it implies.

Just saying...