Israel Advocacy Must Rise Above Ego and Division

How do you avoid unintentionally spreading Israel hatred? That question is more urgent now than ever. Let me be clear from the start: what many call anti Zionism often functions as antisemitism in practice. But instead of focusing only on opponents of Israel, it is time to look inward. The uncomfortable truth is that much of today’s pro Israel advocacy is not just ineffective, it is sometimes counterproductive. If the goal is to strengthen Israel’s image and legitimacy, then the behavior, tone, and priorities of advocates must change.

I consider myself a pro Israel advocate from the moment I first set foot in Israel in 1978, and I became actively engaged with the founding of my NGO Time To Stand Up For Israel in 2014. Since October 7th 2023, the number of pro Israel voices has grown explosively. Add to that the rise of artificial intelligence and the ease with which anyone can produce content, and you would expect a powerful, unified global movement. Instead, what we often see is fragmentation, ego, and chaos.

First, there are media personalities tied to major outlets or even government structures. Their livelihood depends on visibility. To remain relevant, they must stand out, build a personal brand, and attract attention. That creates a dangerous shift in priorities. Israel becomes secondary to self promotion. Collaboration is rare because competition drives the system. The result is repetitive messaging centered around the personality rather than........

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