"The agenda against Israel - also for personal motives. A journalist was reprimanded by a waiter at a kosher restaurant and changed his coverage" | Israel today

Daniel Pomerantz,

Daniel Pomerantz, immigrated to Israel at the age of 36, and in Israel you lost all your money after you were a franchisee of Playboy magazine in Israel. From there the story starts to get interesting, because your connection to the country was created in a non-trivial way.

"I finished law school and opened a law firm in New York. In 2011 I immigrated to Israel, and indeed I was a franchisee of Playboy magazine in Israel, which closed at a certain point. At that time I was left without money, and I started volunteering in the IDF. At the age of 40, I responded to a job ad for the 'Honest Reporting' organization, which works for fair coverage of Israel in the world media, and from there it can be said that there has been a turning point in my life. The experience I gained, the familiarity with the American character and the connection to Israel, along with my experience as a lawyer and my need to help and influence - gave me the role, and the rest is history. "

And since then work has not been lacking.

We are at the end of 2021, and this year's summary data on Israel's coverage is not very optimistic.

"The picture is complex. We found, for example, that the word 'apartheid' was mentioned 704 times this year, on average twice a day; 'war crimes' 570 times, with an average of twice in two days; and 'genocide' 494 times, on average once a day. These terms were also mentioned. On the other hand, mentions of Israel and its actions in the face of the corona plague were also common, with 7,000 mentions.

The Avraham agreements have been mentioned more than 700 times, and Israeli high-tech has also been mentioned 36 times.

"We also set up a project called in free translation 'Israeli Wednesday': Every Wednesday we upload content to our site that can be shared to promote Israel. When a critical mass of people working together is created, a significant difference is created."

As a trend, in recent years do you see improvement in coverage, or deterioration?

"Because of the shift to social media, even if objectively no data deterioration has been observed - things are experienced more prominently. We see Human Rights Watch, a human rights watchdog, working in coordination with the International Criminal Court in The Hague, wanting to prove we are an apartheid state Against humanity.This is why we have seen this year nine human rights watch reports that have led to exposure in the mainstream media. The things that are happening in The Hague and in international organizations are frightening, because this is a real mission against Israel.

"I am glad that there are the high-tech, vaccines and peace agreements that balance the picture, because those who do not know Israel - tend to think that it is a country of wars and religion. When you say what we are not, for example not racists or Nazis, the message does not permeate. What do we do - then the story begins to change. "

Is there a media outlet that can be said to have acted most clearly against Israel this year?

"Within the mainstream, we've seen a lot of unfair coverage from the well-known media - the New York Times, the Washington Post, the BBC, CNN. On the other hand, we also acted against that coverage. I "We are happy that we are considered a reliable body, on which media outlets rely on its information."

What's up with Ben & Jerry's?

Recently you have had quite a bit of work - the opposition to approving the budget for the Iron Dome in the US Parliament, the Ben & Jerrys ice cream storm, Operation Wall Guard.

"In The Guardian of the Walls, for example, we worked day and night. I was interviewed on TV shows, even during alarms, from the shelter, and it created a big impact. There are those who are willing to listen to us when given the opportunity to tell. Imposes sanctions on the parent company Unilever due to the various information efforts. We also filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Office against boycotts, because a boycott against a foreign country is not considered freedom of expression. We also acted in a similar way in the Air B & B boycott in 2018, which finally folded and canceled the boycott of apartments in Judea and Samaria. "

Beyond the activity in front of the ministry against boycotts, you work in parallel with the media.

How are your complaints handled?

"It depends on the journalist. There are those who think deeply about our criticism, but also those who are less interested in it."

Overuse of the word "apartheid".

Riots on the Gaza border, Photo: IPI

And what do you do then?

"You can apply some pressure. In the end, journalists care about their image."

Put me in a conversation like this with a journalist.

"About a month ago, a headline was published on the NBC website stating that an Israeli policeman shot dead a Palestinian woman, without stating that it was a terrorist who was trying to harm people. We contacted the journalist who signed the article, showed him the video from the scene and made it clear that the article He, of course, agreed, and also thanked us.

"Another example occurred about two years ago, when riots on the Gaza border reported that the IDF was shooting at protesters, while Hamas and Islamic Jihad members were also present. After many talks with the media, also with The New York Times and CNN saw a change in terminology. They stopped writing 'demonstrations' and started writing 'violent riots.' And that's a very important change. Use the word 'Activists' in the context of Hamas members committing riots on the Gaza border. "

It also happens that

Do you encounter journalists with a clear agenda?

"Of course, and most of the time they will only talk about it behind the scenes. There are also personal motives. I heard about a journalist who came to a kosher meat restaurant in Israel, and asked for milk at the end. The waiter shouted at him not very politely, and that changed his coverage. Create a big change. "

Balance the image.

The signing ceremony of the Avraham agreements // Photo: Avi Ohayon / GPO,

Emotions and shelters

You recently said that with a short video, you were able to increase support rates in Israel by 32 percent among those aged 24-18. What actually works and positively influences public opinion?

"In many places in the world, certainly in the United States, the discourse is of aggressor and victim, and is based on the fact that 'white Jews' are the aggressors. But if one changes the discourse that the Palestinians live under a regime of terror against which action must be taken - the effectiveness of the message is greater. On the other hand, what does not work for the young audience, for example, is to say that Israel is the small victim, or to say that we are acting in self-defense. "After all, they understand that Israel has the IDF. The discourse should focus on the fact that peace-loving Israelis and Palestinians are victims of terrorist organizations."

Also in the context of the young audience - recently the Foreign Ministry recruited network stars to improve Israel's image. Is this an important step?

"This is an important step because we need to act on all types of media. Social media is as important as traditional media. We know how the media works - and if Human Rights Watch claims that Israel is an apartheid state, it can of course also be published in CNN. "And also on social networks."

One platform feeds the other, and things require a speed of response. However, you mentioned in the past that Israel and some of its supporters sometimes tend to ignore harmful activities, until it is too late for diplomacy and propaganda.

"In the last round, Israel attacked the Hamas building in Gaza, which also housed al-Jazeera and the AP. In such a case, a report must be issued to the world media within minutes and explain why and what we attacked. "Critical minutes. In The Guardian of the Walls, I also saw American Jews who began to understand that the American discourse is sometimes also anti-Semitic, which led them to a deeper understanding of Israel."

So American Jews understand us better, and things connect to another thesis of yours, according to which anti-Semitism or anti-Israel is not an issue of right or left.

“I believe that on both sides of the discourse in the US there are extremist people.

During Operation Wall Guard we saw that the most extreme Americans on the right support Hitler and Nazism, while the Americans on the far left speak for human rights on the one hand, but on the other hand attack Jews - even physically on the street.

It is important to reach both Democrats and Republicans, as well as European countries - with facts, depth, warmth and kind of emotion.

When I was interviewed from a shelter, for example, it created an emotional impact. "

CNN Headquarters,

Asia is interested

Let's talk about more specific cases.

The New York Times recently published the story of the Gaza teacher, Rafat Al-Arir, who was described there as promoting understanding and empathy between Israelis and Palestinians, but in fact supports violence and terrorism, calling Israelis "Nazis."

They finally apologized for the publicity.

How unusual is such an apology?

"The apology is not unusual, because when a journalist writes things that are sinful to reality - he should take a step back. But in truth, I am less inclined to celebrate such things, because what is more significant is a general, profound change in the way a media body expresses things, words Which he uses, as I mentioned earlier. "

Some of the change may also cause antisemitic journalists not to discredit the country in the first place.

It is possible?

"Thanks to our work, five antisemitic journalists were also fired from major media outlets. Is it possible to make such journalists not discredit Israel? This is a complex task. In the past, for example, the head of the Twitter news department wrote terrible things about Israel. "They are ignored, and sometimes there is a return for our work."

As part of the direct activity with the journalists, do you recognize in the confrontations with Hamas an improvement from round to round in our coverage situation?

"There is a deterioration in coverage in general. It has become increasingly difficult in recent times to tell the story as it is. At the same time, there are more people who are beginning to understand the truth, despite the traditional media coverage. "Overall, their image in the world is good, because they are perceived as victims."

Is Israel investing enough in Israeli propaganda?

"In my opinion, we need to do much more. We need to invest not only in the coverage of TV channels or newspapers in Israel, but also in the coverage of CNN and the New York Times. There is an encouraging start to the subject, and history shows that everything we have invested in "Success in the end. And if we do not succeed, we have probably not invested enough."

IDF fighter in the Wall Guard // Photo: AFP,

There are those who claim that there is no authentic and genuine coverage in Israel of the situation of Israel in the world, that in fact we also do not cover ourselves in a good enough, accommodating and credible way.

Do you tend to agree?

"This is a delicate issue. Alongside the internal discourse and internal criticism that exists here, there are also issues that we can all agree on. For example, there is a Palestinian Authority martyrs' fund. Emphasize the problematic nature of the matter. "

What is happening in Europe, Asia and elsewhere in the world in terms of Israeli coverage?

"In Europe I identify very hostile, pro-Palestinian coverage, but there is someone to talk to. The Belgian and Dutch governments have opened an investigation into the Palestinian Authority after we wrote about the Palestinian Authority's use of funds coming from the EU and channeled to terrorism. Who come to our press conferences and write about Israel. "

So they write about us all over the world, it's a long time.

But when, in your opinion, was the peak of support for Israel recorded?

"Before 1967, Israel received the most support because we were considered small and weak. After 1967, things began to change, and now in the United States and Europe I recognize a popular philosophy called 'Wakism', from the language of 'awakening' in Hebrew, according to which there is no room for nuances. Victim and aggressor.

This is also the reason why we need to continue to work harder, with more funding and people.

It is for me the dream, to continue in this important work.

When I was a kid I heard great and good things about Israel, and when I got here - I felt like I was hanging out with real celebrities.

And when I work for the country today, for me it's all worth it.

It makes my life really meaningful. "For 

suggestions and comments Ranp@israelhayom.co.il

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