Israel has taken a battering in the global propaganda battle over its war on Hamas, despite deploying all weaponry ranging from Youtube videos to Twitter blogs and an overworked spokeswoman, analysts said.
Governments have slammed the Israeli military onslaught on the Gaza Strip, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned attacks near U.N. schools that killed dozens and foreign media are angry at being kept out of the Palestinian territory.
With images of parents carrying lifeless children to overwhelmed hospitals dominating international media, angry protests have been staged in major capitals and Israeli websites have reportedly come under cyber attack.
European Union External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told President Shimon Peres in a meeting on Tuesday that "Israel's image is being destroyed" by its refusal to heed ceasefire appeals.
| Hate to be cynical, but Israel's international image hasn't been good for years, decades even. So what's the long-term consequence? As far as I can see, just mean words from the EU and the UN. If Israel were to show some more spine and look the Y'urp-peons, UN-uchs and the press in the eye and say "screw you guys, we're finishing the job", the only response would be helpless splutter and eye-rolling. |
Hamas has concentrated on the Arabic media and shunned the West. Israel has launched a sophisticated public relations campaign to keep the focus on cross-border rocket attacks from Gaza that preceded the war.
Military spokeswoman Major Avital Liebovich has become an international media celebrity fending off tough questions about Israeli attacks and the mounting toll.
Israeli ambassadors have also been sent into the television battle. The defense ministry has posted videos of Israeli air strikes on Hamas targets on Youtube, and the government has organized Facebook groups. |