Miri Eisin / Is only the Israeli narrative 'the truth' and all the others wrong?

[DogPoundPup]

Israel has a national obsession with everything concerning hasbara (a Hebrew word for "explanation" and referring to information, spin, propaganda or a strategic public relations policy). Every time a warlike event takes place, the Israeli broadcasting networks turn to hasbara experts with the recurring question - what must we do to improve Israel's international image? They really mean "how can we prove to everyone that we're right, they're wrong and everybody hates us and they're anti-Semites?"

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the war was presented in very different ways - informed by three parallel narratives.

The Israeli narrative focuses on us, our war, our suffering, the families and reserve soldiers, the home front and decision making. The other side is shown only on the margins as part of the spin. The three Israeli broadcasting networks turn into news channels, zooming in on every local aspect and become part of the national effort during the fighting.

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Israelis are exposed mainly to the domestic networks and are shocked to hear how we appear to others. But is only the Israeli narrative "the truth" and all the others wrong? The challenge facing Israeli hasbara is to understand the cultural world and conceptual approach of other target audiences and talk to them in their language.

entire article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1059104.html