Janice Lozano
In 2012, the Israeli government launched a program to pay students to promote pro-Israeli information on social media. The program, which was also publicized in 2013, aimed to recruit students with foreign language skills to form covert units and defend the country on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. These students would receive scholarships to engage international audiences online and combat anti-Semitism and calls to boycott Israel. The Israeli government's collaboration with an anti-Muslim hate group, the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), has also been revealed, showing a strategy to smear, threaten, and intimidate pro-Palestinian activists by falsely associating them with Islamic extremism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Israel |
| Year | 2012, 2013 |
| Target | Muslims, pro-Palestinian activists |
| Amount paid | $2,000 |
| Recipients | Students |
| Social media platforms | Facebook, Twitter |
| Time commitment | 5 hours a week |
| Requirements | Lived in Israel for three years, identify as active Zionists, served in the Israeli military |
| Purpose | Defend Israel, promote pro-Israeli information, combat anti-Semitism, respond to calls to boycott Israel |
| Groups involved | Israeli government, National Union of Israeli Students, Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) |
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What You'll Learn
- Israel paid students to promote pro-Israeli content on social media
- Students received scholarships to engage international audiences online
- Students were paid $2,000 to work 5 hours a week
- The Israeli government collaborated with an anti-Muslim hate group
- The aim was to falsely tie pro-Palestinian activists to Islamic extremism
Israel paid students to promote pro-Israeli content on social media
In 2013, Israel announced plans to pay students to form "covert units" to defend the country on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, allocated a budget of £540,000 to recruit over 500 students to respond to social media posts critical of Israel, including calls for boycotts and sanctions. These students, particularly those with foreign language skills, would receive "scholarships" to engage international audiences and combat anti-Semitism without disclosing their affiliation with the government.
This strategy aimed to create the appearance of politically neutral student activism, similar to previous arrangements reported by a Palestinian blog in 2012. That year, students were allegedly paid $2,000 to post pro-Israel messages online for five hours a week. The recent initiative was spearheaded by Danny Seaman, who faced criticism for writing anti-Muslim messages on Facebook.
The Israeli government's efforts to shape online discourse extend beyond its borders. In 2024, Israeli documents revealed a broad government campaign to influence US discourse around the Gaza war. Amichai Chikli, a Likud minister, advocated for a proactive approach to counter critics of Israel, especially on US college campuses. Chikli oversaw the spending of approximately $8.6 million on government advocacy to reframe the public debate. This included coordinating with American advocacy groups like the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), whose research was cited by lawmakers in interrogations of university presidents.
Additionally, the Israeli government has provided financial and strategic support to pro-Israel student groups in the US, such as Hillel International, through organizations like Mosaic United. These groups contribute to shaping political debates and campus discourse related to Israel. While some Israeli officials emphasize the importance of forming coalitions with non-governmental organizations, others highlight the need for continued financial support for these advocacy efforts.
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Students received scholarships to engage international audiences online
In 2012, the Israeli government launched a program to pay students to promote a pro-Israeli agenda on social media networks. Students participating in the program received scholarships to "engage international audiences online" and combat anti-Semitism and calls to boycott Israel. The program aimed to create covert units of students defending the country on Facebook and Twitter. These students would not be identified as working for the government but instead appear as politically neutral.
The scholarships were reportedly worth $2,000 and required students to spend five hours a week online, promoting talking points provided by the Israeli government. To be eligible, students must have lived in Israel for three years, considered themselves active Zionists, and served in the Israeli military. The program was criticised for failing to distinguish between anti-Jewish statements and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government's policies.
In 2021, further revelations emerged of a broader smear campaign by the Israeli government to demonise Muslims and intimidate pro-Palestinian activists. This included the funding of "counter-jihad" organisations, such as Campus Watch, which aimed to monitor college professors who supported Palestinian rights. There were also allegations that an anti-Muslim hate group, the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), was paid thousands of dollars to undermine American Muslim activists on behalf of the Israeli government.
These incidents highlight a pattern of Israel's use of online propaganda and smear campaigns to influence public opinion and silence critics of its policies.
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Students were paid $2,000 to work 5 hours a week
In 2013, the Israeli government announced a plan to pay university students to post pro-Israel messages online. The students would receive scholarships to "engage international audiences online" and counter anti-Semitism and calls to boycott Israel. This was not the first time such an arrangement had been made—a Palestinian-run blog reported similar agreements between the National Union of Israeli Students and the Israeli government in 2012.
The students were to be paid $2,000 to work 5 hours a week, though it is unclear over what period this was to be paid. The total number of students to be recruited was over 500, with a budget of £540,000. The students would not be required to identify themselves as being paid by the government. Instead, the plan was to make the programme seem like it was based on the activity of politically neutral students.
The programme was criticised by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which noted that it was being led by Danny Seaman, who had previously been criticised for writing anti-Muslim messages on Facebook. The Israeli government is not the first to pay internet users to defend its interests online. China's so-called "50 Cent Party" is another example of a government swaying public opinion by paying individuals to post favourable messages.
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The Israeli government collaborated with an anti-Muslim hate group
In 2013, the Israeli government announced plans to pay students to form "covert units" to defend the country on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The students would receive scholarships to "engage international audiences online" and combat anti-Semitism and calls to boycott Israel. The plan was to make the programme appear politically neutral, with students not identifying themselves as being paid by the government. This strategy aimed to sway public opinion and present a positive image of Israel online.
The Israeli government has also been involved in broader public relations campaigns to shape discourse and public opinion, particularly regarding the Gaza war. Amichai Chikli, a Likud minister, has led efforts to counter critics of Israel and student anti-war protests, especially in elite universities. Chikli has overseen the spending of approximately $8.6 million on government advocacy to reframe the public debate. This includes coordinating with American advocacy groups like the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP).
In addition to targeting US college campuses, the Israeli government has also collaborated with pro-Israel student groups worldwide. For example, Hillel International, a large Jewish campus group, has received financial and strategic support from Mosaic United, a corporation backed by Chikli's ministry. These partnerships aim to shape political debates and influence campus discourse related to the Gaza war and Israel's actions.
While the Israeli government has defended these efforts as necessary to counter criticism and shape public perception, some lawmakers have expressed concern over the limited budget and the potential impact on free speech and civil society. The collaboration between the Israeli government and various organizations, including student groups, non-profits, and advocacy institutes, highlights a coordinated strategy to influence public opinion and discourse on a global scale.
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The aim was to falsely tie pro-Palestinian activists to Islamic extremism
In 2013, the Israeli government announced plans to pay students to form "covert units" to defend the country on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The aim was to combat calls for boycotts and sanctions against Israel, as well as to challenge anti-Semitism. The students would not be identified as being affiliated with the government and the programme would be disguised as the work of politically neutral students.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the programme was being led by Danny Seaman, who had previously attracted criticism for writing anti-Muslim messages on Facebook. The Israeli prime minister's office was reported to be spending around £540,000 on the initiative, recruiting over 500 students, particularly those with foreign language skills.
This strategy is part of a broader public relations campaign by the Israeli government to shape discourse and public opinion, particularly on US college campuses, regarding the country's involvement in the Gaza war. Amichai Chikli, a Likud minister in the Israeli government, has been a key figure in this effort, overseeing the spending of around $8.6 million on government advocacy to reframe the public debate.
The Israeli government's attempts to influence US campus discourse have included targeting student protests, human rights organizations, and other voices of dissent. They have also sought to redefine antisemitism in US law and mobilise university leadership, student leadership, and local politicians to support Israel.
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Frequently asked questions
No, but in 2012, a Palestinian-run blog reported that the Israeli government had paid university students $2,000 to post pro-Israel messages online for five hours a week.
The Israeli government launched a program to pay students to promote the Israeli agenda on Facebook and internet chat rooms. This program was aimed at ""deepening and expanding hasbara activities of students," with "hasbara" being the Hebrew word for propaganda.
No, students participating in the program did not have to disclose their relationship with the government. Instead, the plan was to make the program appear to be based on the activity of politically neutral students.
Critics pointed out that the information provided to student participants did not distinguish between anti-Jewish statements and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government's policies. They argued that the program organizers incorrectly labeled all criticism of Israel as 'anti-Semitism'.
Yes, in 2021, it was revealed that an anti-Muslim hate group, the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), had paid thousands of dollars to employees of a Muslim advocacy organization to undermine American Muslim activists on behalf of the Israeli government.
