TEL AVIV—As Israel faces the enduring threat of Iranian-backed terror organizations, a parallel battle rages in the digital and psychological spheres. Waves of manipulated information, propaganda, and psychological operations are posing new challenges for Israeli society and the broader world. This report examines the mechanics of mass manipulation, Israel’s response, and the ongoing need for moral and historical clarity in the face of persistent conflict and disinformation.
War and Disinformation: The Modern Battlefield
Israel’s war for survival extends far beyond the frontlines of Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. The October 7, 2023 Hamas-led massacre—the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust—underscored the seriousness of the ongoing conflict against Iran’s network of proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Yet, even as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) respond militarily to acts of terror, adversaries are waging information warfare to undermine the legitimacy and resolve of the Israeli state.
The digital battlefield—characterized by mass manipulation of public opinion and online proliferation of misleading narratives—threatens to create a reality in which millions, or even billions, are ‘led’ by falsehoods instead of leading based on verified facts. The manipulation is not accidental; it is orchestrated, with state and terror-affiliated actors exploiting social media, news platforms, and cyber channels. The objective is to erode Israeli and global confidence in facts, conflate terror and self-defense, and diminish support for Israel’s right to security.
Israeli security agencies, including specialized IDF cyber and communications units, have responded decisively, escalating fact-checking operations, counter-disinformation campaigns, and partnerships with international technology firms. These efforts aim to stem the tide of antisemitic incitement, radicalization, and outright falsehoods that proliferate in the wake of every escalation involving Israel.
Psychological Manipulation and Its Societal Effects
The machinery of disinformation is designed to divide societies and sap their ability to resist aggression. Iranian and terror-group propaganda, targeting both Israelis and global audiences, spreads narratives that invert reality: portraying Israel’s lawful self-defense against terror as aggression, and manipulating footage or reports to cast doubt on clear culpability for violence and war crimes.
Within Israel, this leads to concerns over civic unity, trust in institutions, and the capacity for society to remain mobilized against existential threats. Cross-sector initiatives—spanning education, media, and civil society—have been launched to promote digital literacy, critical analysis, and historical education.
Despite these challenges, Israeli society continues to exemplify resilience. Air raid sirens, emergency mobilizations, and volunteering in crisis have become acts of unity. Citizens actively engage in public discourse, challenging misleading reports and supporting transparency in government and military communication. Experts observe that Israeli society’s rootedness in democratic debate and historical consciousness helps buffer against complete submission to outside narrative manipulation.
Global Context: The Scope of Mass Manipulation
Internationally, the specter of mass manipulation is not unique to Israel. The same mechanisms—disinformation campaigns, fake accounts, viral conspiracy theories—impact democracies across Europe and the Americas. What distinguishes the Israeli experience is that the stakes are existential, with disinformation campaigns directly tied to military and ideological efforts by Iran and its clients to delegitimize and harm the Jewish state.
This broader context underscores the warning for other nations: robust democracy and factual reporting are not inevitable. Without vigilant public engagement and robust media institutions, hostile actors can rewrite narratives and encourage apathy or helplessness. The tendency for populations to accept ‘being led, not leading’—to function as passive recipients of information—requires urgent attention and policy action.
Hostages and the Imperative of Moral Clarity
Among the most urgent issues facing Israel today is the ongoing hostage crisis. Nearly 250 innocent Israelis were abducted by Hamas during the October 7 massacre—a point of national trauma and moral outrage. Israeli authorities stress the legal and moral distinction between these hostages and terrorists held in Israeli prisons for violent offenses. The global discourse, at times, obscures this essential distinction, using terms such as “prisoner exchanges” and muddying the moral waters.
Government statements reiterate Israel’s unwavering commitment to the safe return of its citizens and the non-negotiable principle that victims and perpetrators cannot be equated. Information campaigns highlight the evidence of atrocities—executions, torture, and sexual abuse—as clear documentation of Hamas’s criminal conduct and the necessity of Israel’s response.
Faith, Questioning, and Civic Leadership
While Israel’s challenges are grave, the national character combines faith with relentless questioning and accountability. Popular discourse frequently invokes spiritual language—“How great are Your works, O Lord!”—to acknowledge the unpredictability of events, but this faith tradition is balanced by rigorous debate, scrutiny, and community action. Israelis are not condemned to be passive players; rather, they are called to lead by example—in defending democracy, upholding historical truth, and refusing the roles ascribed to them by adversaries.
The national dialogue in Israel, from policy forums to neighborhood groups, is marked by a refusal to succumb to despair or apathy. Instead, there is a vibrant ongoing process of self-examination—how best to respond to threats, how to maintain resilience, and how to ensure that new generations are equipped to recognize and resist attempts at mass manipulation.
Conclusion: Truth as a Strategic Asset
Israel’s struggle against Iranian-backed terror formations is inseparable from its fight against propaganda, disinformation, and the corrosion of truth in public life. As the region’s only liberal democracy, Israel’s survival requires not only military strength but also unparalleled vigilance in the information domain. The lesson for the world is clear: societies must invest in truth, critical engagement, and historical clarity—lest they too find themselves trapped in a manipulated reality.
Israel’s example demonstrates that vigilance, education, and collective responsibility are indispensable to remaining a leading—not a led—society. As the nation continues to defend its borders and its truth against well-resourced adversaries, its experience offers an urgent model for democracies everywhere confronting an age of information warfare.
