Hasbara Penetration In The Iran-America War, Israel

Photo by Luthfiah VOI

JAKARTA - Hasbara is a public communication strategy that is often associated with the Israeli government's efforts to shape international opinion - not only through official diplomacy, which has targeted various media lines, but even their propaganda has reached the media and artificial intelligence.

According to the lecturer in the field of Public Theology, Philosophy, and Ethics at the high school, STFT, Prof. Binsar Pakpahan, said that since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza region on October 7, 2023, various efforts to find out the truth of a number of Israeli claims regarding its actions in the war were considered difficult. "One of the reasons is that Israel uses a propaganda function known in Hebrew as "Hasbara" in an effort to control, shape, and distort the narrative of every aspect of their actions".

In practice, this pattern of penetration often targets spaces that are considered neutral and intellectual, such as campus forums, international seminars, and foreign policy discussions involving academics, diplomats, and think tanks. In these spaces, narratives about conflicts in the Middle East - especially those related to the Palestinian issue - are often framed with certain points of view that emphasize the legitimacy of security and geopolitical perspectives that are in line with the interests of the country.

In the academic environment, this activity usually takes the form of conferences, public lectures, or research collaborations that bring together international relations experts, former diplomatic officials, to policy analysts. The themes raised are often related to regional security, global terrorism, or stability in the Middle East region.

Through these forums, the narratives conveyed do not always appear as direct propaganda, but rather as scientific arguments wrapped in academic language and policy analysis. In this way, the discourse that is formed can influence the views of students, researchers, and policymakers in various countries.

In addition to through the academic space, penetration also takes place through media channels and digital platforms. Opinion articles in international newspapers, policy analysis reports in think tanks, to infographics that simplify the complexity of conflicts are important tools for building public perception.

These contents often emphasize national security narratives, regional threats, and justifications for certain military actions or foreign policies. In the era of social media, this strategy is further developed through the production of short video content, informative threads, to visual campaigns designed to be easily shared and viral.

On digital platforms, these contents are often packaged in a concise and emotional manner so that they are easily accepted by the global audience. Infographics that explain the chronology of the conflict, short videos highlighting security threats, or opinion articles that emphasize certain perspectives are part of efforts to shape international public opinion.

In many cases, the messages are professionally produced by communication networks, digital activists, or advocacy institutions that have an interest in building a certain image in the eyes of the world.

This phenomenon shows that the battle of narratives in modern conflicts does not only take place on the battlefield, but also in the information space. Universities, mass media, and digital platforms become important arenas in shaping global perceptions of conflicts, political legitimacy, and human rights.

Intelligence and security observer, Ridwan Habib, assessed that Iran began to change its war strategy by targeting the energy interests and facilities of the United States in the Gulf region. This step is considered an effort to pressure Washington and its allies through economic and energy channels, not just direct military confrontation. Iran's attacks in the latest conflict have been directed at energy infrastructure, ports, airports, and strategic facilities in the Gulf countries.

In this situation, global energy routes such as the Strait of Hormuz are crucial points because they are one of the world's main oil distribution routes. Tensions in the region have even caused disruptions in oil trade and triggered concerns about a global energy crisis.

In this context, the ability of the public to read information critically is becoming increasingly important, because behind every narrative that circulates there is often a wider geopolitical interest.