Propaganda: Exposed

Espesially the very few last moments of the movie - very powerful.

Kudos to Aish and Micha Smith for taking this piece of propadanga and being able to flip it around while providing some interesting facts and statistics. It's amazing how Israel is being portrayed as a "Goliath" bully against the Palestinians by much of the world press & news. Israel is really the "David", a tiny country with limited resources and under constant threat, and the ONLY democracy in the Middle East. May the truth prevail and G-d protect Eretz Yisrael and the Jews.

It griefs me to see how many people believe in lies that are told about Israel. I think the video clip you made is so true and beautiful because it is the truth. It makes me happy to see and read text from friends. I support Israel and I thank Gd that I'm not the only person. If there is anything I can do to help let me know.

Fantastic job! Using that format to answer each of the absurd accusations as they come was the best! Many people must see this also on YouTube, or anywhere else it can be shown! Thanks for the good work!

really strait to the point

What I can't figure out is the special treatment and attention afforded the "Palestinians." They are the only "refugees" with their own U.N. agency. They get billions in aid, both legitimately and illegitimately. There are few actual refugees; most of them are descendants of refugees. They are but a subset of Muslims who never had but now demand their own state, and commit terrorism in the pursuit of their goal. The world doesn't shed any tears over other such Muslims in Thailand or the Philippines. The Palestinians are not the only people who ever suffered displacement and permanent relocation due to war. Entire cities in Iraq were divided up ethnically after Saddam was driven out. The world does not clamor for Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians to be allowed to return to their homes. So what's the big deal with the "Palestinians," other than the fact that Jewish Israel "mars" "sacred Muslim land" (Who are the real racists here?)?

As a Christian and a supporter of Israel, I am tired of being bombarded as I am by the rabid hatred of Israel that continues to promulgate pictures of devastation and accusations of genocide in Gaza. I see very little from the Israeli viewpoint that eother denies these accusations or puts them into a perspective. Generally all I see from the Israeli viewpoint concerns incidents and events that are months or years old, and i think Israel is very poor at giving the world up-to-the-minute day-by-day coverage that we can use to nip the lies of the arabs and the MSM in the bud. How about it friends?

without any other comment, one thing I do have to say has to do with one of the first lines of the new video. The video mentions a Palestinian state in 1948. This is where many other people make mistakes, in that there is not now nor has there ever been a country of state of 'Paslestine.' The only existence of the word "palestine" is that in relation to territories, palestinian terrirtory.

With the second video. Perhaps Carter needs a copy? I think the public is beginning to see how crappy the palestinians are treated by other Arabs, and how they do have better lives inside Israel vs. Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, etc. They are not allowed ciizenship in the other Arab countries, and instead of CAIR helping them, they would rather bother and fight with the American people, or send money to terrorist groups keeping violence and hatred alive over there. CAIR needs to and deserves to get, lawsuit after lawsuit against them. By Americans from Palestine. If the Pals in America would go against CAIR and other arabs for their maltreatment, something may be done. Until the truth is free and the propaganda is stopped, Palestinian children will always live in war zones and terror.

I wish more people could see what is really going on in this situation. I have been watching this for years and have seen how Israel has helped the Palestinian people, allow them free access to Israel, live in Israel and even allow them to be part of Israeli government! Then I watch arabs in other countries, burning our flags and wanting death to the U.S. and Israel. I see no such thing coming out of Israel. I amazes me how the rest of the world can be so blind, and blame Jews/for the problems over there! I hope your film will make it around the world!!

I also received the link to a video from the "Never Before Campaign". I watched their video and then followed a link to youtube which had another link to the "Never Before Campaign" website. I signed in and went to the leave a comment box. I left a comment which appeared immediately at the top of the comments. I let them know that I was Jewish and that like them all I want is peace, and to live together without violence. Well, when I returned the next day my comments had been removed. Then 2 more times I tried in vain to leave comments, because they knew I was Jewish my comments were removed, even though it says that they welcomed comments from "everyone". I asked them why my comments were removed and they lied and told me that no one had removed my comments it was just that I hadn't posted properly. When I scrolled down I took note that ALL of the comments that were posted were pro-palestinian. So what a waste of time to try and "talk" to these people that want peace, and want to see "Humanity Prevail!" What a joke. They only want to spread their lies, and fool unsuspecting mostly young people who are easily taken in by this type of deception. So THANK YOU AISH.COM for producing this article and video to counter the lies. I will gladly send it to everyone I can to teach people to be careful who they listen to.

Also needet is the docu `what the West must know about´ or similar. The main title is `Obsession´.

Kol hakavod to Rabbi Simmons. But I think some of the additions to the original video are too legalistic. Yes in the real world UN resolutions and international law matter. But I doubt if anyone stirred up by the first video will be consoled by knowing the legal position. The first video shamelessly plays on the emotions, and the only way to counter this is to provide our own emotional arguments. The slogan 'what would you do?' that Israelis put on the net during Operation Cast Lead was a brilliant example of this. Our response to propaganda must touch people's hearts or hit them in the guts, and legal arguments, I'm afraid, just don't do it!

So now how to we get this out to those who are polluted with the "orginal' video???

Aish.com has does a terrific job in highlighting the lies that this film wishes to propagate. However, I have one gripe. The film is just that: political propaganda intended to emotionally enrage its audience into believing its message. Aish failed to address this point. Fighting the emotional lies cannot be, with facts alone. Truth be told, Palestinians are suffering, and they incorrectly feel that it is Israel's fault, why? because of the propaganda levelled at them. Its no surprise they voted for Hamas. Hamas convinced them that they are not to blame for their own problems, but Israel is. This is the single problem facing Palestinians today. They have to realize that they have to a.) help themselves and b.) acknowledge that terror is not an answer to the problem, but perpetuates it. The sooner Hamas is rejected by its own people as the cause for its ills, the sooner, peace will be achieved. That is the point that needs to be directed to those who wish to perpetuate the 'Palestinian cause'.

excellent

a book is your solution?! i think you have defined the root of the problem. lack.of.education! en mass!

I work on a US military installation and NEVER before the past 6 months have I seen such a turn against Jews. I sit in my office with my jaw on the floor a lot of days. Thanks for putting FACTS where they go.

great idea. just remember to keep it short and powerful. intellectuals tend to forget that reading is fast becoming a thing of the past.

Excelent response, good visual rhetoric, well done!. I want to add that I really recommend to everyone the book The Case for Israel, authored by Alan Dershowitz, it exposes the real facts about what really happened and it is happening right now between Palestine and Israel; if this book were read by politicians, activists and common people, I think the so called "palestinian cause", would be dead.

Thank you very much asih.com for putting together this response, and with G-d's help hopefully people will see the truth.

Living in the US, I see firsthand how foolish most people are. Ask why they voted for Obama? Change. What change? I don't know. People get excited, they get inspired, and almost rarely look at things clearly. Super-Liberals would be happy if terrorists could have some extra land. What would that accomplish? A couple of more cities won't make them happy. Only the entire country being overrun would satisfy them. I know the crowd at Aish doesn't need to hear this but people need to wake up. Stop saying giving back the Golan = Peace. It equals deaths, wars, and getting closer to a victory for the terrorist filth. But Aish, I know we say we shouldn't just talk but rather act - what could we do in America to help? I'm really not sure...optimism here isn't around as much as 10 years ago

The people of Israel have always put pride, solidarity and freedom above strictly political or even socio-economic interests. Such ethical beliefs and self-conciousness will never be defeated by ANY propaganda. Hashem blesses Eretz Israel and we Benei Israel need to fight in every way (and day to day) to permit such a blessing be revealed.

I think the comparisons you made are interesting, but i would urge your readers to look into the matter further for themselves and conclude some truth. I agree with you on the definition of propaganda, however I feel you have simplified it. Propaganda is not limited to one burst or one medium. Propaganda can range from a mega marketing communication to simple word of mouth. Propaganda is even parallel to human nature. We project our opinions, and try to convince others (with any given detail) that ours is the right thought, and by working any argument, we are in turn propagating our thoughts. I also have to admit, I think the "Never Before" campaign is a necessary voice to our people. Enough has been done. Having the strongest media, and lobbying capabilities, the Jewish community has dominated public opinion through various efforts. Yes, again, propaganda. It's not always been right, eh?

Is perfect I' m living in Chile, and I' m agree the images of the first are really powerful and convincing, but with the second one I think people will see clearly the Truth, an idea: just put both together on Youtube or others. The best part of our video is the last one. Bravo :)

Our Arab cousins put a lot of time, money, and effort into advancing their "cause" in the media. They twist the truth and world believes them unconditionally. I am still surprised why Israel doesn't have a media machine to constantly put the truth in the worlds' face whether they want to believe it not. We have pictures, testimonies, and hard facts and yet we don't spend the money to deliver the message. Israel is always quick to apologize but hardly is the formulator of world opinion. Why? I hope more films like this come out and get sent to everyone around the world.

The words went by too fast. I had to pause to read them. I LIKED it! You should get Pro-Israel U-Tube videos out! That is where the young impressionable minds need to see the truth. I have friends that live there (from America) and we here in the States rarely, if ever, get the TRUTH!

The Palestinian video makes a strong impact. Aishe video is way to fast and not clear enough. Aishe's job is much harder if not impossible. There is an old Yiddish saying a fool could throw a rock into water and 10 smart men cannot undo its effect. If I could be of help and you want specific ideas, which is what I do - intellectual property and new product development please contact me. Hatzlocha on your great work, Tommy

i think many of these comments are missing the point here. The film is meant to educate us about propaganda. It is not the solution to the propaganda war, nor is it the best film defending israel -- it wasn't trying to be. It tok the existing arab film, a severe time constraint, and showed how the film is manipulating viewers and flat out lying. Yes there is too much text there [stop the film and read it!] And yes its for aish.com readers -- who wants to get this arab film out there more? i don't! In fact that film didn't do too well on youtube. Kudos to Aish.com for responding so quickly in such a clever fashion.

I though of one major problem: The first video was sent to everyone with an E-mail address, while your version is more or less limited to Aish.Com subscribers (who are already pro-Israel, probably). In fact, I think this is a general problem with all the anti-propaganda efforts today. The mass media sends out anti-Israel and anti-Semetic messages to EVERYONE, whereas the anti-propaganda campaigns are disseminated by E-mail lists and web sites for people who are already interested in such messages. In other words, preaching to the converted. What good is it really doing? I would love to see someone find a solution to this problem.

This is simply a bit of constructive comment regarding your video that I think might help to make your efforts more effective: 1. The point of the video is lost without seeing the original. I think it is detrimental to forward the original--the less the lies are repeated the better.... 2. Adding text over the original makes it difficult to read all the new text (not enough time) and somewhat confusing. I would like to see just the new text appearing--that is what we want people to absorb. Having to reread the accompanying lies takes time which should be going to the new text. 3. The opening should not say "Palestinian state". It should just read Palestine. 4. The call for genocide was not just in 48, 67 and 73! The point is that the call for Jewish genocide occurs DAILY! 5. Instead of saying that "Res. 242 was specifically worded to say that Israel does not have to withdraw from ALL the territory", I would say "Res 242 clearly does NOT require Israel's return to the indefensible 67 borders". 6. Most of the pics should be replaced. The best part of the video is where this WAS done: the pics for Tyranny, Opression, Racism! Very effective!!! 7. In short, you would do better to relate to the lies by stating facts (with appropriate pics) WITHOUT repeating the lies.... Just my two cents/agurot.... Janet in Jerusalem

I will be posting this page on my FB page and sending it around the world to others of both like and un-like mind! It's exhausting having to continually make our case, and frankly, I'm physically, emotionally and mentally tired of feeling like we have to justify our existence and beg others to recognize us. We do NOT - we exist by the power of G-d and no one else counts!

A good presentation of facts and truth. Thought provoking. May the truth prevail.

This is absolutely amazing. I can not get over how good of a job you did at "fixing" their propaganda video. Thank you!

It is Cruel, and Unusually inhumane for the nations of this world to insist that a People who have been made to suffer in refugee camps, with no regard from their obscenely wealthy coreligionists, are not enabled to exercise their values, and find true love and validation in a democratic state. It is obvious that Democracy, and freedom, are anathema, to authentic relationships and interrelations in this type of idealized society. I strongly urge, the wealthy countries, to invite their suffering coreligionists to inhabit a country more in line with their values, Western values, based on the Christian-Judeo ethic, is simply unspeakably tortuous, and the vilest of possible existences for a people who feel an non rootable need to experience social affirmation of the superiority of personal values. It is simply, unconscionable for the West to INSIST, that a People who feel displaced, should be re-assured, falsely, that Western civilization will abide by their needs and disappear from the world.

I simply could not stomach watching the entire "packaged word-smithed-Mirriam's Thesaurus listings. If I wanna be informed about "misrepresentation and invalid, Semeotic Branding," I'll read a consumer's report. Justice, one of Judaism's Pillars for the existence of our world. I do not even know where to begin - when the Arab armies vowed to drive the "Jews to the sea", when "We love and embrace Death, not life" as the rallying cry, how about..With our blood. and with our Life, we martyr ourselves for Palestine". How about - 3000 years of Jewish History, as recorded in Torah, the Christian Bible, and even (gasp) the Quran??? This is Jewish Territory- GIVE us BACK GAZA, the WEST BANK, and all other territories left to us. It is Jewish land, and no amount of misleading marketing can change three thousand years of Jewish HISTORY, (the factual kind).

Thank you Aish for making appropriate edits. The edited comments sometimes go by more quickly than one can read and take in the info - especially, if someone is not familiar with the facts. I want to send this link to many of the people I know who seem to be fooled by the propaganda type of "sound bites/ albeit visual bites" which appear on the screen. Rut from Portland

extremely well done, however too fast and too much info at once.

You did a beautiful job, but Antisemitism will prevent the world from taking notice. We have to turn more to G'd in our Mitzvot and Tfillot. Only then will we see result

The Palestinian film took all the premises and reversed them. So make the point that they got it backwards; Play their film backwards. In that way you can lead off quoting the Palestinians as saying "we prefer life more than death" (I paraphrase) or you can possibly quote Golda on the war. You can stress "Choose life" from Nitzavim. But mainly you can apply psychology in that the words of the last speaker have more effect than the words of the earlier speaker. You can end with "choose life" Choose Israel or just plain "choose life". You can even include Barak having offered almost everything the PA wanted and also Olmert having done so and that the PA refused the deals. In fact, you don't even want to literally respond to their film point-by-point. You want to quickly undercut their argument and then open the discussion so as to make your point that Israel and Judaism is about life, hope, justice and mercy. Possibly you even want to change the tone towards the end so as to create emotional comfort. That would include transforming the harsh music into something pleasant. Show that even the music in their film encourages hatred and death when one could choose brotherhood and life. I'll think more about this. I hope my first impressions give you some ideas. Over all, I did like your film. I am just wondering if something even better can be created, because I care.

Amalek will perish... and Ishmael's malice will not succeed!

This is not the opening salvo of a cyber war that has been waged against Israel. It is a war of words and their distortions that have compromised Israel's standing in the world. Words such as; occupation, settlements, apartheid have been hijacked and used to distort the realities. This is a counter strike that should be one of many strikes against the misinformation that this "cyberwar" has evoked. I suggest hacking their site and replacing it with the correct version.

GO AISH!!

Before, it was definitely one-sided propaganda. With the added facts and figures, it was easy to see it's more than just seeing Palestine as the only victim. It's easy to see just who is really the victim that's being oppressed. I love and support Israel, always!

...is that the truth *always* takes longer to tell than lies.

Shavua tov. It's not just how wrong the Arabs are - it's about how just and righteous the Jewish cause is. I am sad that this was not highlighted. Suggestions (that can certainly be improved upon): -It's about Justice - the justice of the Jewish people's return to their Holy Homeland after 2000 years of forced exile -It's about Love - the Jewish people's thankfulness for having been kept alive by G-d until this time for its very special role in the world's redemption -It's about Life - and the ongoing resurrection of Jewish sovereignty and civilization after it was nearly snuffed out...forever ...and pictures to go with them. I loved the very end of the redone film. That was fabulous. Am Yisrael Chai! Geula Achshav!

In the difficult times we live, with so much open hostility to the Jewish people and to the State of Israel, only our total faith in Hashem combined with our Hishtadlut can give us the strength we require. And what you are doing, Baruch Hashem, is Hishtadlut. Kol Haskavod!

Thanks for doing this great service for the PR of Jews and Israel Please allow for reading of the text because it was a bit too fast.

The number of facts in the first half of the clip are hard to read and digest before the page changes.

Slow down, please. It is hard to grasp your points if they are flashed across a screen so rapidly. The important points are lost in the presentation. Please redo, slow down, and then it can be passed from one to another. Thanks!

THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU for addressing this very disturbing PR video I received this week to my email. I totally agree with others...you need to slow down the original video so that we can absorb what you added. KOL HAKAVOD!!! ...and how about we JEWS sending our version around to email addresses just like they did. How in the world are they getting these email addresses? I've never been on any Islamic email list...how was I singled out? Can we do as they as send it around the world to millions of email addresses out there? If I can help you do this, please let me know.

Great job!! Just one piece of advice, the 2nd video would be much easier to follow if there were more of a contrast between their subtitles and yours (maybe a different color).

Firstly, thank you Rabbi Simmons, for a wonderful job. We need to keep doing this kind of thing whenever we can. For example, for this years "Israel Apartheid Week" in Canada, the pro-Palestinian lobby produced a poster showing a helicopter gunship aiming at a toddler holding a teddy bear. At the time, I suggested that we needed to reproduce the poster exactly as is, but with the addition of a masked terrorist firing a rocket from behind the little boy. And for last week's Pride Parade in Toronto, where Queers against Israeli Apartheid marched in triumph, I suggested creating a very simple poster that showed two men being hanged and had the caption "Gays in Iran and Saudi Arabia". Next to it was a picture of a flamboyant gay person in drag, with the caption "Gays in Israel". Underneath, the line "Are you sure Israel is the country you should be bashing?" In other words, let's use the Palestinian propaganda material to tell the truth, in exactly the way this video does. And let's do it every time we get the opportunity.

Your video MUST be played where ever and when ever possible to ALL JEWS - the facts are true, simple, clear and can be told/ relayed to all AND to ALL OTHER PEOPLE's as again it is simple and concise. It must be told in whatever manner as the State of Israel, the Jews, and the world is at risk. Marvelous job.

I agree with Rina Chiyya the written parts must be much slower paced as English is my first language and I had to stop the movie to read the text numerous times. I just wish we could be more aggressive with getting out the truth to the world. Thank you for making the film - now I just pay it reaches the people that need to see it. Yehudit Chaya

It is unfortunately true; with only one big lie or only one terrorist you can destroy life, but it needs much effort and bravour to save lives. Israel not only defends Jewish life, but is a blessing all over the world with medical technical and electronical invention which save lives. Look the Israel version again and stop with the button at left at every page, and you can read all the text quietly. God bless you Israel!

The problem is that all these rebuttals are seen only by Jews and persons who are sympathetic to us. There has to be a way to get the "opposition" to see them.

I must agree with others that this was a very hurried effort. Freeze the film if you must to give readers enough time to read all you have added. I live in the U.S. and am overwhelmingly supportive of Israel, so keep up the good work.

Every jew who 'll see this video has to share it widely. Am Israël Haï.

Am Yisrael Chai!!!!!! Ami Chai!!!! Yes please take the reading parts slower, English is my mother tongue but we need time to absorb not speed read. Great come back. Kol Hakovod

Why is it that Europe has become a haven for raical Muslims and not one person seems to take notice but the Jewish population? Wh isit that Israel " Is always in th e wrong?" Maybe the Radicals have a better pr group.

I think you did a great job especially with the end of the film. Your pictures were very powerful. I think the begining did of the film was very informative however, there was a lot to read in a short time and that reduced the impact

I think this is the best anti-propaganda campaign I have seen yet.

Truth and justice will prevail, reinforced by a clenched fist. Positive actions by the enemies can open my fist to enable a handshake, once I know who I am entrusting.

Your version is so much better at explaining but may I suggest that the written parts would be done at a slower pace to give the person who is watching this time to read it. English is my second language and I find it way too fast and so would others who use a different language. Am Yisrael Chai, Rina Chiyya

When the truth just won't benefit their programs, terrorism of all nations resorts to propaganda. Anyone who actually pays attention will know that your video is the one telling the truth.

i always appreciate your work!