According to the Israeli press newspaper The Jerusalem Post, the budget item in question includes propaganda activities called “hasbara” in Hebrew.
It was noted that the budget allocated to this area in the 2026 state budget approved by Israeli lawmakers last month has more than quadrupled, with around $730 million for propaganda activities compared to the $150 million last year.
The news states that the amount in question reached about twenty times the budget allocated for propaganda activities before the attacks on the Gaza Strip began in 2023.
It was explained that activities to conduct social media campaigns, invite foreign delegations to Israel and expand media activities were planned as part of the new budget.
In this regard, it was noted that it plans to increase promotional activities on digital platforms, host international delegations and set up media content monitoring units.
News reports noted that the propaganda budget increase came at a time when international public support for Israel was declining.
It stated that some poll results showed that negative views toward Israel had increased, particularly among the U.S. public.
Experts believe that investments in propaganda will not achieve their purpose
The news, which also included experts' assessments, expressed that increasing the budget allocated to propaganda activities alone may not be enough to change the negative perception caused by the war in Gaza.
Experts pointed out that the international image of countries is directly shaped not only by propaganda activities, but also by local policies and practices.
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