As the Gaza war rages, Israeli funds target US college campuses and push to redefine antisemitism in US law
This article exposes a comprehensive Israeli government program, known as Voices of Israel (formerly Concert), designed to influence US public opinion, particularly on college campuses, regarding the 2023 Gaza war and Israeli policy. The program leverages a network of American advocacy groups, including the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), to reframe public discourse, promote the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, and pressure universities to suppress criticism of Israel. This effort involves significant financial investments, covert social media campaigns, and close coordination with key political figures in the US.
Key Points:
- Israel launched Voices of Israel (formerly Concert), a program aimed at influencing US public opinion, particularly on college campuses, regarding the 2023 Gaza war and Israeli policy.
- Voices of Israel has spent at least $8.6 million on government advocacy to reframe public debate.
- The program leverages a network of American advocacy groups, including the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), to promote the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
- ISGAP has been deeply involved in the campaign to enshrine new laws that redefine antisemitism to include certain forms of speech critical of the nation of Israel.
- The program has been used to pressure universities to suppress criticism of Israel, including the suspension of the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at MIT.
- The program includes covert social media campaigns, using hundreds of fake accounts to post pro-Israel or anti-Muslim content on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
- The program is funded by the Israeli government and involves close coordination with key political figures in the US, including members of Congress and state lawmakers.