Israel Enlists Conservative Media Firm To Target Americans In New Influence Campaign

Israel has hired the American firm Starboard LLC for a $500,000 campaign intended to influence US opinion of Israel, according to federal foreign-agent filings. The agreement focuses on measuring and changing the views of right-leaning Americans, at a time when public support for Israel has fallen and some traditionally supportive Republicans have become more sceptical.

Signed on 13 October with influencer-marketing firm LDRS Group, which is acting for Israel’s government, the 120-day contract covers polling, targeted digital messages and analysis. It includes a pilot programme to assess changes in sentiment and a final report estimating the cost of changing an individual’s view. The article cites a Chicago Council on Global Affairs survey rating Americans’ views of Israel at 44 out of 100, the lowest since 1978; Starboard, LDRS and Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.