Public diplomacy in army boots: the chronic failure of Israel’s Hasbara

Abstract

Israel’s image in the world and its attempts at public diplomacy have always provoked intense discussion and criticism at home and abroad. Through analysis of reports, official documents, and protocols, this article shows how weaknesses in public policymaking undermine the establishment of Israel’s public diplomacy. Israel’s weakness in public policymaking and crisis of governance preclude the possibility of encompassing official measures for an efficient decision-making process, or for long-term strategic planning. This ‘institutional void’ is filled by the IDF, creating a process that causes the ‘security mindset’ to triumph over all other foreign policy factors. The outcome is a less effective Hasbara, which also affects broader diplomatic considerations.