How I long for the day when Israel’s ambassadors to the United States and the United Nations were formidable, erudite defenders of its cause. Israel has a case—an undeniably strong one—for its actions. Not all, but most. Nearly the entire world, with the aid of the media, comes down on Israel like a ton of bricks. The latest act of futile demonization came when the General Assembly demanded Israel agree to commit suicide within 12 months. I want to say that Israel’s ambassador gave a vigorous and memorable defense of his nation, but regrettably, he did not.
Some of us are old enough to remember when American Jews nearly universally admired Benjamin Netanyahu—not just for his defense of Israel but also for his ability to go on the offensive against its adversaries in flawless English. He remains a brilliant spokesperson, but now, burdened by political baggage, many tune him out.
Typically, the ambassador to the United States is the person in front of the cameras. Michael Oren brought an American intellectual perspective to that job. As a historian, Oren could put events into perspective without reciting Jewish history going back to Abraham. In an era when the Palestinians can answer every question with three words, “End the occupation,” Israel needs a spokesperson who can speak in fluent and effective soundbites.
Where is Israel’s ambassador to the United States? For the entire war, Michael Herzog has been AWOL in the media. I don’t remember any ambassador who was as invisible. Oren occasionally appears now, but he is no longer in the government. One of the best spokespeople for the government was Eylon Levy until he was unceremoniously fired, ostensibly for criticizing British Foreign Secretary David Cameron (he was reportedly on thin ice for other reasons before that). Similarly, Noa Tishby, Israel’s special envoy for combating antisemitism, was and is a brilliant spokeswoman, but she, too, was fired from her job—before Oct. 7—for criticizing judicial reform.
Military spokespeople like Jonathan Conricus (retired) and Daniel Hagari have been pivotal in Israel’s public relations battle. Their primary duty is communicating the facts and rationale behind operations undertaken by the Israel Defense Forces, which is crucial in shaping public perception. Hagari, for instance, has been highly effective in presenting evidence, such as guiding the media through the intricate tunnel complexes used by Hamas. Despite their efforts, much of the press dismisses Israel’s claims while readily accepting the unverified narratives from Hamas and its propagandistic Gaza Health Ministry.
Coincidentally, one of Israel’s most unyielding U.N. ambassadors, Chaim Herzog—who also served as president—was the father of Israel’s current president and U.S. ambassador. His response to the notorious “Zionism is racism” General Assembly resolution remains one of the most powerful and lucid explanations of Zionism that masterfully debunked the claims of Israel’s detractors.
The attack on Zionism, he said, “constitutes not only an antisemitic attack of the foulest type but also an attack in this world body on Judaism.” He reminded the General Assembly that “Jews were once one of the important communities in the countries of the Middle East, the leaders of thought, of commerce, of medical science. Where are they in Arab society today?” Israel was being accused of racism even as Herzog said, “I can point with pride to the Arab ministers who have served in my government.”
Herzog also addressed critics of the Israeli government, apropos of today’s divisions in the Jewish world. “It is our attempt to build a society, imperfect though it may be—and what society is perfect?—in which the visions of the prophets of Israel will be realized. I know that we have problems. I know that many disagree with our government’s policies. Many in Israel, too, disagree from time to time with the government’s policies, and are free to do so, because Zionism has created the first and only real democratic state in a part of the world that never really knew democracy and freedom of speech.”
The reaction to the latest U.N. travesty should be the same as Herzog’s to the earlier calumny:
“For us, the Jewish people, this is but a passing episode in a rich and an event-filled history. We put our trust in our Providence, in our faith and beliefs, in our time-hallowed tradition, in our striving for social advance and human values, and in our people wherever they may be. For us, the Jewish people, this resolution, based on hatred, falsehood and arrogance, is devoid of any moral or legal value. For us, the Jewish people, this is no more than a piece of paper, and we shall treat it as such.”
Herzog probably explained the United Nations best when he said if Lewis Carroll let Alice loose in this building, “all she would have to do is wear a Star of David in order to hear the imperious ‘Off with her head’ at every turn.”
I long for the eloquence of someone like the incomparable Israeli statesman Abba Eban, who offered a timeless response to today’s critics of Israel’s attitude regarding a ceasefire with Hamas. “To succeed at the negotiating table, it is sometimes necessary to be obdurate and tenacious. But this is bad for the image. To succeed in image-making, it is better to be always flexible. But then there is damage to the concrete interests defended at the negotiating table. Other nations consistently subordinate transient popularity to concrete interests; never the other way around.”
“Our international posture,” he continued, “cannot exclude the capacity to stand alone for certain periods of time when a vital interest is at stake. It is important to be popular—but even more important to be alive. If you are alive, you can work hard to reconstruct your popularity, whereas if you are dead, you will be conspicuously popular during the funeral oration. But the consolation will be transient and brief.”
This should be Israel’s response to Biden, Harris, the British, the United Nations and others who want Israel to let the terrorists win so their lives will be easier. It is also a message to those Jews who naively believe if Israel capitulated to the Palestinians’ demands, the international community, media and university campuses would stop demonizing the Jewish state. As one astute observer noted, “If Israeli troops left their guns at home and carried feather dusters, they’d be accused of causing Palestinians to develop allergies.”
Less erudite than Eban, but a much funnier Jew, Woody Allen, had the best answer to the two-state fantasists who think the Palestinians will abandon their goal of destroying Israel: “And the lion will lie down with the lamb, but the lamb won’t get much sleep … .”
Allen isn’t going to be a spokesman for Israel, but others outside the government are doing a better job than Israelis. Two that come to mind are British journalist and political commentator Douglas Murray, who takes a more conservative intellectual approach, and American comedian Bill Maher, who satirically skewers the ignorant Hamas-loving protesters and hypocritical progressives.
At almost every speech I’ve given over the past 30-odd years, someone inevitably asks why Israel has such terrible PR. The question arises again now: Where are the government officials who can present Israel’s case succinctly and persuasively?
