BY AVI RATH, YNET—
While facing the nations of the world, the State of Israel’s public relations officials tried everything, ranging from the security argument, through the narrow borders and all the way to the strategic threat. Yet it’s not working and remains unconvincing. When we adopt this kind of PR, the world tries to come up with solutions to the security problem: Utilizing satellites, cameras, electronic fences, multinational forces, demilitarized zones and all sorts of other creative notions.
We tried PR strategies premised on various arguments. We made use of the Holocaust, the expulsion from Spain, the Crusades and anti-Semitism. We enlisted all the blood libels to the cause in an effort to prove our righteousness, yet it hasn’t worked either. In fact, we have seen the opposite effect. Suddenly we discover that not only Turkey boycotts us, but also Scotland, not to mention the British academic boycott and all sorts of other such moves.
After trying so many ineffective PR methods, perhaps we would do well to go back to the simple approach – the Bible. After all, we are speaking to the Christian and Muslim worlds. These two religions recognize the Biblical story, the Bible’s truth and its sanctity. Both religions admit that the Jewish People is the people of the Bible. So instead of seeking security arguments to justify our right for this land and for Jerusalem, let’s go back to our roots and speak the Biblical language which the world understands.
Instead of trying to come up with theories and explanations that fail to convince the world, we would do well to go back to the basic verses of the Bible, such as: “for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.” (Genesis 13:15)
Learn from Ben-Gurion
Classic Zionism spoke at rallies and conventions during the day, while setting up communities overnight. This is how the state was built. This is how we established the reality of our life in the Galilee, on the Golan, in the Jordan Rift Valley, in the Negev, and in Judea and Samaria. We created an irreversible reality. Once this becomes simple for us, it will be simple for the world as well.
The role of leaders is to speak, explain, present arguments and produce a proper, serious PR strategy that has a chance to convince the nations of the world. Meanwhile, the role of the people on the ground is to create a reality of natural, healthy and normal Jewish life (as far as it’s possible to consider the actions of the Zionist Movement as “normal.”)
Does it sound naïve? Not serious enough? Good thing David Ben-Gurion didn’t think so. After the outbreak of the 1936 Arab riots, the British government established a commission of inquiry to look into the events. The Arabs repeated their usual occupation claims (and this was 1936, much before 1948 or 1967.) Ben-Gurion was summoned by the commission in order to argue for the Jewish People’s right for the Land of Israel.
When the head of the committee addressed him and wondered how the Jews can argue that they have a right for the land, as most of them were not born here, Ben-Gurion picked up the Bible and said: This is our ownership deed.
So simple and so true.
If the world believed the Bible, there would be no argument over who has the right to the land. Instead, the world wants Israel to be cut in half, thinking that would bring peace, but of course it won’t. However, the G-d of the Bible will have the last word, and promised that Israel will defeat her Arab enemies once and for all.
Israeli hasbarah has been a failure for over 25 years or more. stop looking for support interms of bible, borders and timeslines. those who will hate you will continue no matter what academic fact you give them and thats not effective ,impacting P.R. Years past, thos leaders would say, look we know we are right and soon they will learn that we are right. forget about those who hate concentrate on all those who dont know you and all your wonderful accomplishments nobody knows about. Here in the U.S. it has already been shown by survey, few non-Jewish american know about israel so through regular media- TV/Radio spot ads , transit posters on sides of buses and in subway stations where millions of people commute everday, Movie theater ads, outdoor billboards on highways, market Israel – the hasbarah office and all the american Jewis h orgs did to pitch to american all th ewonderful accomplishements that Israel does- health science, technology, agriculture research etc. -things that americans have used and loved in their daily life but had no idea where it came from. being in Haiti no one knew about till CNN tripped over the clinic. no one knows you go around helping countries in disasster support. People would grown to appreciate and love Israel if they knew, but you have not said one word. when American were arguing over health issues last summer, there were no hadassah posters out there saying that that Isrel provides quality health care to arab and Jew equally- nothing was outr there and continues. How stupid can Isralis be . you need to market a product- Israel liek ice cream and creatively show why you would love to support this product.
I am pleased to read this article, as it is the first step towards the Father of Abram, Isaac & Jacob. This will cause many things to happen.
1. It will force the world to choose, Gods word or the worlds wants.
2. It will force Israel to not only use the Bible but act upon it with I hope true prayer.
3. By Faith it will release the Power of God to touch our hearts and hopefully push us off the fence and decide do we stand with Israel or not.
As a Christian I must admit I do not understand how churches say they do not stand for Israel. I do not understand how one can read the bible and not have a love for Israel and God’s chosen people. I am honored to be grafted in.
As for me and my house we will stand with Israel, and yes at any cost.
Sincerely,
Larry A. Miller
No other nation has such a deed to the land of Israel. The only deed in the world that will never expire or be broken!!!!
What planet do you l ive on for you to think the muslims believe in our bible? The Koran is nothing like either the old testament nor the new testament. Sure, that may have beena ood stategy with the British, they were mostly Christian then. ow, a great many of them are muslims. Citing God should always work, but with 80% or more of Israeli’s being secular and the USA not allowing prayer at some high school graduations, I dubt that quoting god would work at all. It is a sorry state of affairs and quotaing god works with me, but not for a majority of people in this world.
God uses the simple things to confound the wise. If they deny the fact of the bible, it amount to saying God lies. It also amount to denying Christians all over the world their faith. It also makes mockery of historical fact. When we use the bible as evidence, we are talking to people who are truthful and recognises fact. People who embrace freedom of worship and does not deny reasonable faith. Lastly, if they call God a liar, than it is not our problem. Its God’s problem, let Him deal with them. I sure do not want to come close to them when He pour out His wrath.
Ben Gurion said it all, the Bible is Israel’s DIVINE deed indeed.
My life has never been the same since I’ve understood the grafting in and G-d loves both Jew and Gentile. The word says in John 8:31-32 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples, Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. I’ve learned to stand on his word and let G-d be G-d. I do not understand why more churchs are not even discussing the importance of Israel, bit then too, the many wonders and miracles will continue to show who G-d truly is.
Barbara Stewart