Einat Wilf's party unveils seven-point plan to counter anti-Israel narratives
The Reservists-Economic Party, through candidate Einat Wilf, proposed a seven-point plan treating the international "war of consciousness" as a national security matter. A separate JNS column, which doesn't mention the plan, asks what "hasbara" should look like outside crises.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 1The Reservists-Economic Party unveiled a seven-point national policy plan on Sunday 11 October 2026 to counter anti-Israel narratives internationally, the Jerusalem Post reported. The Jerusalem PostRC “The Reservists-Economic Party unveiled a seven-point national policy plan on Sunday aimed at countering anti-Israel narratives internationally” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1The plan was written by former MK Dr. Einat Wilf, who is third on the party's Knesset list. According to the party, she would lead its implementation in the next Knesset and government if the party secures a role in either. The Jerusalem PostRC “authored by former MK Dr. Einat Wilf, who is running third on the party's Knesset list”“Wilf would lead the plan's implementation in the next Knesset and government, should the party secure a role in either.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1Its central idea is to treat international public opinion and narratives as national security considerations, so that Israeli decision-makers weigh the narrative effects of diplomatic and security decisions while making them, not only afterwards through public diplomacy. The Jerusalem PostRC “treat international public opinion and narratives as national security considerations, rather than issues handled primarily through public diplomacy after government decisions have already been made” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1Other points include moving from a reactive to a proactive posture, and turning the Foreign Ministry into a professional institution with funding and standing comparable to the Defense Ministry's. They also include a hub to coordinate reliable information and intelligence at the speed of social media. The remaining points are alliances with international opinion leaders and parliamentarians, diplomatic, legal and economic tools against supporters of terrorism, and a new international agenda instead of working within frameworks set by Israel's adversaries. The Jerusalem PostRC “transforming the Foreign Ministry into a professional institution with funding, resources, and standing comparable to those of the Defense Ministry”“building strategic alliances with international opinion leaders and parliamentarians, deploying diplomatic, legal, and economic tools against supporters of terrorism” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1The party did not specify a budget, the structure of the coordination hub, or an implementation timetable. The Jerusalem PostRC “The party did not specify the proposed budget for these measures, the structure of the new coordination hub, or a timetable for implementation.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1In a statement, Wilf said hasbara suits responding to criticism, but that Israel faces an ideology building a justification for the annihilation of the Jewish people. She said Israel must move beyond hasbara to a national war of consciousness, and argued that hostility to Israel and Zionism is increasingly legitimized by international institutions, universities and media organizations. The Jerusalem PostRC “Israel must move beyond hasbara and begin conducting a national war of consciousness.”“hostility toward Israel and Zionism was increasingly being legitimized by international institutions, universities, and media organizations” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1Party chairman Yoaz Hendel backed the plan, saying Israel had fallen behind its adversaries in shaping international perceptions and calling Qatar "an enemy state that finances our enemies". The Jerusalem PostRC “"Qatar is an enemy state that finances our enemies," Hendel said” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1The Jerusalem Post noted that the government has already raised public diplomacy spending: in December 2025 Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich agreed a NIS 2.35 billion allocation for advocacy in the 2026 budget. It said Wilf's proposal goes further, seeking to change the role of narratives in policymaking and not just fund communications campaigns. The Jerusalem PostRC “Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich agreed on a NIS 2.35 billion allocation for Israel advocacy efforts in the 2026 budget” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1The party cited renewed pro-Palestinian demonstrations and events around the third anniversary of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack as the backdrop to the announcement. The Jerusalem PostRC “The announcement follows renewed pro-Palestinian demonstrations and events surrounding the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1A separate JNS opinion column by Melinda Strauss, published on 14 October, does not mention the plan. It discusses the same debate from the creator side, noting that the word hasbara means "explanation" and arguing that advocacy on ordinary days, such as showing everyday life in Israel, matters as much as crisis response. JNSR “It means “explanation,” and I don’t love the idea that Jews constantly have to explain themselves”“Hasbara doesn’t always have to look like fighting.” Read at JNS ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets are Israel-based and lean right. The Jerusalem Post reports the plan as a policy initiative, with an urgent tone and Wilf's and Hendel's quotes. JNS runs a first-person column on sustaining advocacy and avoiding burnout.
- Emphasis
- The Post stresses treating narratives as a security issue, a stronger Foreign Ministry, and the party's argument that hasbara is not enough. JNS stresses everyday, non-crisis advocacy and creator fatigue.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet includes critics or independent assessment of the plan. The Post gives no cost estimate and offers no outside evaluation of whether Israel is 'losing' the narrative war. The JNS column does not mention Wilf or the plan.
- Charged language
- “war of consciousness”“Israel is losing the war of narratives”“enemy state”
- For example
-
“Israel must move beyond hasbara and begin conducting a national war of consciousness.” — The Jerusalem Post
“Qatar is an enemy state that finances our enemies” — The Jerusalem Post
“Maybe the future of hasbara is less about constantly reacting and more about figuring out how we keep showing up.” — JNS
What every side reports
- The Jerusalem Post reports the Reservists-Economic Party presented a seven-point plan written by Einat Wilf.
- Both outlets treat the contest over Israel's image and narratives, and the limits of 'hasbara', as a significant challenge after 7 October 2023.
Einat Wilf person
Presents the plan as going beyond hasbara: a national effort against an ideology that she says seeks to justify the annihilation of Jews, with narratives treated as a security concern.
“we are confronting an ideology that is constructing a justification for the annihiliation of the Jewish people” — The Jerusalem Post
Hasbara topic
Wilf says hasbara fits responses to criticism but is insufficient against current threats. The JNS columnist dislikes the term, saying it means 'explanation', and argues it need not always be combative.
“Hasbara is appropriate when responding to criticism of Israel.” — The Jerusalem Post
“Hasbara doesn’t always have to look like fighting.” — JNS
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
The Jerusalem PostRC · · Opinion
Israel is losing the war of narratives: Einat Wilf unveils plan to fight back
Mixed A news-style report, labelled opinion in our data, that relays the party's plan and quotes largely without challenge, adding context on existing government spending and the plan's missing details.
-
JNSR · · Opinion
Keeping Israel in the news in normal times
Sympathetic A personal column on the post-7 October wave of pro-Israel online creators, urging sustained everyday advocacy beyond crisis response; it does not discuss Wilf's plan.
- 12 Oct 16:00 First The Jerusalem PostRC Israel is losing the war of narratives: Einat Wilf unveils plan to fight back Opinion
- 14 Oct 18:00 +50h JNSR Keeping Israel in the news in normal times Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…