Former Israeli Spokesperson Says Israel Has “Lost the War on Social Media,” Calls for New Global Propaganda Unit
Former Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari has admitted that Israel has “lost the war on social media,” describing digital platforms as the most dangerous and influential battleground in shaping global public opinion—particularly among young people.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Jewish Federations of North America in Washington, DC, Hagari urged the creation of a sophisticated new propaganda structure modeled after Unit 8200, Israel’s elite cyber-intelligence unit.
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According to him, modern conflicts are no longer determined by lengthy reports or official statements but by “a battle of images, videos, and statistics.”
Hagari proposed the establishment of a centralized online operations unit that would:
- Monitor anti-Israel content in real time across global platforms
- Operate in multiple languages
- Provide rapid-response messaging and data for government agencies and media outlets
- Build networks of fake digital identities and automated bot accounts
- Deploy unofficial influencers and bloggers—“preferably mostly young women”—to shape narratives subtly
His remarks have sparked conversations about the growing role of information warfare and the ethics of state-backed influence operations in the digital age.
Former Israeli Spokesperson Says Israel Has “Lost the War on Social Media,” Calls for New Global Propaganda Unit