Sijal sheds light on government’s efforts to enhance public image abroad
2013-11-13
In the 5th edition of Sijal, the letter from the editor stresses that on the one hand, Israel tries to market itself to the world as a democratic, moral state seeking peace and stability; and on the other hand, as a strong country able to defend itself and do damage to its enemies. However, while in the past these portrayals have reinforced Israel’s complex public image as a powerful yet cultured nation, the screws are starting to come loose. This picture is fading in the eyes of the West, which has traditionally been Israel’s political and economic babysitter.
As a result, new trends have emerged in Israel’s diplomatic and public relations that signal an attempt to repair the country’s public image abroad; the biggest example being the success in altering the perception of the Holy Land in some Latin American nations.
The letter from the editor explained that the global impression of Israel plays an important role in international relations. The absence of political policies in this diplomatic illustration is a mechanism in the war of propaganda, especially regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel makes a big effort in this context, which compelled I’lam to shed light on the issue.
I’lam covers the following topics in the latest edition of Sijal:
· The photographer Alaa B’darneh: Palestine’s public image frustrates the efforts of media that support Israel”
· The movie Beit Lehem: positive and negative reviews; plus the question: does this film reflect reality or enhance the perception of the occupation?
· Branding Israel: How did the country transform from an occupying entity into a modern state?
· Israel uses everything from art to culture to improve its public image
· Bias in the news? Israel and how the West sees it: a comparison between American and European media
· 2013: The birth of TV channel I24
· An interview with Mr. Walid Hassan, head of the newspaper Hadith al-Naas, titled as “Walid Hassan: from drawing caricatures to the world of journalism and media”
To read the 5th edition of Sijal (in Arabic), please go to: http://www.ilam-center.org/publication.aspx?id=411
