No Hasbara Without Policy: You Can't Explain What You Can't Defend | Tova Herzl

Tova Herzl argues that Israel's public diplomacy crisis stems from a lack of consistent policy that can be defended, not from a lack of hasbara capability. She criticizes the inflammatory reactions of politicians, particularly in response to the film "No Other Land" that won at the Venice Film Festival, and calls for state management and coordination instead of populist responses.

In her opinion piece, Tova Herzl analyzes Israel's public diplomacy crisis, focusing on the response to the film "No Other Land" that won an award at the Venice Film Festival. She argues that the term "hasbara" itself is misleading, as it assumes that if we just explain correctly, the problems will disappear. In reality, a policy that can be explained and defended is required. Herzl raises difficult questions: How does Israel see the future of Palestinians under annexation steps? Why do acts of lawlessness in the territories continue, even though the US ambassador calls them "Israeli terrorists"? How will the economy handle the growth of the Haredi population that does not realize its earning potential? She criticizes the inflammatory reactions of the Prime Minister and his team, who called for revoking the citizenship of the film's creators, and suggests that instead, one or two official bodies (the IDF Spokesperson and the Foreign Ministry) should have responded thoughtfully, while referring to a thorough examination of the claims. Herzl calls on leaders to look beyond their political base and act for the common good, through state management and coordination. She concludes that without consistent policy, hasbara is nothing but propaganda.