As Israel’s Hasbara Budget Soars, Netanyahu Stresses Need For More Propaganda

Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone

“In a fawning softball 60 Minutes interview released Sunday, Benjamin Netanyahu stressed the importance of winning ‘the propaganda war’ on social media. This comes as Israel moves to quadruple its propaganda budget to $730 million a year. Major Garrett (which apparently is a real name belonging to a real guy who works for 60 Minutes) told the CBS audience that ‘Netanyahu attributes the reputational harm to Israel almost entirely to social media, which he calls the eighth front of the war.’ ‘This is yours, right?’ asked Netanyahu, picking up Garrett’s phone. ‘You’re not immune either. Because you can penetrate this machine, you can penetrate this little instrument, and you can say about Major Garrett anything you want. And I can paint you as a monster. And if I say it often enough, enough people will believe it.'” (05/11/26)

https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2026/05/11/netanyahu-stresses-the-need-for-more-propaganda-as-israels-hasbara-budget-soars/