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The World's First Social Media War: Israel v. Hamas
Media watchdog organization Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting notes:
The conventional corporate media timelines usually stress, whatever the facts, that Israel is responding to violent attacks by Palestinians.
For example, the New York Times and other mainstream media claim Israel only responds after “persistent Palestinian rocket fire", which is false. FAIR documented this occurring numerous times over the past decade.
(Of course, the media is always pro-war, always serves the powerful and real reporting is strongly discouraged.)
But it's not just corporate media ... Israel and Hamas are fighting in social media as well.
Specifically, 26 year old snowboarder Sacha Dratwa has overseen a savvy social media campaign which currently has the upper hand:
AP notes:
The Israeli government is trying to pre-empt a publicity pounding over its Gaza offensive by aggressively pushing out its version of events, furiously tweeting and Facebook posting updates from a "media bunker."
***
Media experts say that Israel's public relations campaign is just an extension of the traditional effort by government propaganda machines to dictate and control the media narrative during a conflict.
"The underlying reasons of Israel's propaganda are to silence the enemy, gain international support and justify wars," says Helga Tawil-Souri, associate professor of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University.
"Their goal has not fundamentally changed over the years, only the platforms on which these are disseminated," she said.
USA Today reports:
As the conflict in Gaza intensifies and claims more lives, a new front has opened up: Both sides are now battling it out in social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook in an intense public relations offensive.
In addition to Facebook and Twitter accounts, the IDF is also on Tumblr and Pinterest, posting photos of the military operation and of day-to-day army life. The Israeli military also is streaming images from drone cameras to Twitter posts.
***
The Israeli strategy marks a departure from previous conflicts with Palestinian territories and is in large part down to negative response to how they have handled the media in the past, experts say.
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"Since then, the IDF has invested heavily in its social media operation," said Rebecca Stein, professor of cultural anthropology at Duke University who has studied the IDF's use of social media.
"It has realized it has to talk in the vernacular of social media – its output is more polished," she says.
Philip Howard, a fellow at Princeton University who specializes in social media and political Islam, said it is likely it is likely that Israel's tweets before the initial airstrikes were first time an army has provided advance warning of an attack using social media.
"There are examples of military officers blogging or posting things that enemy governments dislike," he said. "But this was no slip-up; there was a deliberate strategy to 'get ahead' of social media by tweeting in advance."
Forbes writes:
Both Israel and Hamas have essentially live tweeted the confrontation from its beginning, mixing military updates with threats, YouTube videos, graphic images and made-for-Twitter graphics. The IDF has also been pushing its message on Tumblr and Instagram.
The all-out battle on social media has bewildered many following the confrontation online. Mathew Ingram, a senior writer at GigaOM, tried to sum up his thoughts in a tweet: “Fascinating, horrifying, bizarre, disturbing,” he wrote. “I think I have officially run out of adjectives to describe what Israel and Hamas are doing.”
***Jeff Jarvis, director of the interactive journalism program at the City University of New York Journalism school, said in a phone interview that while he had not quite figured out what gives this confrontation such an odd feel, the aggressive, official use of social media made may be responsible.
Jarvis pointed out that social media has been used in conflicts before– notably in the Arab Spring—but that governments perhaps have not been as involved.“Twitter has been used by witnesses and participants in these events and media was the outlet for institutions,” he said. “So what we see now, is the institutions heading over into the medium of the witnesses and participants.”
It may, of course, just come down to creative and tone. The graphics posted by both sides, for instance, have been especially strange. One posted by Israel’s @IDFSpokesperson account portrayed rockets raining down on the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, and the Eiffel tower and asked “WHAT WOULD YOU DO?”
***Another, posted by Hamas, showed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hoisted in the air by a Qassam rocket ***
When a military at war asks its Twitter followers to “Please Retweet,” or check out its Tumblr, or posts an image of a rocket hooking a Prime Minister’s undergarments, it is hard not to sense a disconnect between that messaging and the bombing taking place in real life. As The Verge’s Joseph L. Flatley put it, “One liveblogs award shows or CES keynotes, not armed conflict.”
Still, Jarvis thinks the strategy is an effective one because it allows the two entities to go straight to the people, as opposed to speaking through the media . “You want to get your message out without being reduced to somebody else’s selection of sound bites,” he said. “This allows them to go around the mediators.”
Of course, Israeli service men are not the only ones engaged in pro-Israeli social media efforts. As we've noted for years, Israel has employed its civilians to automatically vote stories questioning Israel down and to send pro-Israel letters to politicians and media (see this, this and this).
Indeed, Israeli prime minister Netanyahu publicly thanked Israel's keyboard warriors for battling on social media for the cause:
AP points out:
In an operation attached to Israel's press office, hundreds of volunteers produce and post instant videos and graphics about the latest twists in the Gaza offensive from Israel's point of view. Its Facebook site, "Israel Under Fire," has gained more than 24,000 "likes" over the last week.
***
"We're removing the media middle men," said Daniel Seaman, deputy director general of Israel's Ministry of Public Diplomacy, as youth buzzed around with computers and smartphones. "They used to say the Elders of Zion controlled the media. Well, here are the youngsters of Zion who are running it."
On the other hand, Ynet says that Hamas has won the media war.
And RT says that Hamas has won the social media war on Twitter:
Postscript: Israeli's bombings of international media centers is being categorized by Israel as rooting out Hamas terrorists, and by many in the media as targeting journalists.
Of course, the U.S. has been manipulating social media for years. And just as Israel warned reporters not to interview anyone from Hamas, the U.S. is wary of competition from anyone else using social media.
And if any side happens to be using the ultimate dirty trick, that could unfairly shift the media dialog.
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dude, let me clue you in, 'cuz you Floridians have no clue about crusing on a Grey Boat, let alone on a Sharia compliant vessel.
No Luuuuuuuve.
No Promises.
Nyet Arab Spring, not all of the Arabs are playing, but ...
- Ned
{fricken' gray boats suck--It took Mrs_Meat years to get me to go on a cruise.}
{{And a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving on You and Your Family.}}
lol...you too Ned.
Running around here getting ready for tomorrow, be safe yourself and give ALL your special piglets a squeeze from me ;-)
And how'd that shit all work out?
LOL
(gonna go find something constructive to do before I loose my senrenity)
Worked out swell if you're into a religious-state alliance...lol...but its really...Dhimmi-ocracy.
Its fucking hopeless with these idiots.
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Ahhh, I've offended three who didn't know anything about this...poor babies.
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Four now!...the sun rises from the east ;-)
nmewn...
Now there's a dichotomy, a hypocrisy, an unresolved cognitive dissonance....
On the one hand supporting a theocracy offshore (which displays some rather un-spiritual behavioral patterns) whilst demeaning the so called faithful at home and demanding exclusion of religious beliefs (dogma as opposed to the message) from their own turf.
Bit of principled failing philosophically.
Thus best disregarded as irrelevant
FairTV is exactly the same kind of left wing joke that Fox's "Fair and Balanced" is a right wing joke ..... without the audience.
I like George a lot mostly, but this one is lame.
What you have here are two groups of lying assholes who are bent on destroying each other with little regard for consequences.
As unkind as it is to say, nothing makes a good Palestinian freedom figter happier than a dead child to parade through the streets.
A pox on all of them, Jew and Muslim alike.
I simply cannot disagree with this comment enough. Government mandates that those who produce cars must include seat belts...yet they do not mandate p.c. manufacturers that all computers have finger print and retina scanning to secure the "end user"? CRAZY. Senator Joe Lieberman passed legislation in the sense of a majority vote to "secure the Internet space for the American people." this should NOT be a war to begin with...people need to have their Data secured...or at least be "secure in the knowledge" that their Congress has their back on this. Israel is a PRIME example of just how "un-secure" the Internet actually is.
What the hell are you talking about?
Substantially expanded:
Is Israel Or Hamas Winning the War … In Social Media?
GW: with respect to Hillary taking a day (that is more than 24 hours of additional slaughter of innocent civilians) to show up to declare the so-called "Cease Fire", that is, 24 hours of additional "battle", what do you think?
a) all political on all sides?
b) Hamas stretching out the "battle"?
c) Muslim Spring gets to exercise its muscles for a bit longer?
d) Hillary being Hillary and gaining prospective political points including inoculation from the Benghazi fuck-up?
e) it is great, because Zahal gets to kick the snot out of Hamas?
f) Hamas deserves the additional ass-kicking because they killed and dragged so-called "Israeli spies" through the streets a la "Blackhawk Down" not in Somalia, but rather in the rather more civilized Gaza Strip
g) Hillary gets to put a great wet kiss on the Egyptian .gov (you know, the Muslim Broz) who intervened and helped to "gain the cease fire." {wonderin' how many $BB that will cost us???}
There is no question: Hamas wins all media venues.
But we ought to understand answers to above piercing questions that you can't bring yourself to pose.
- Ned
Iranian Fajr-5 rockets landing on you in...3...2...1 ;-)
It is a good case example of how propaganda works. The social media aspect certainly adds to the spin.
This is a propaganda war if I've ever seen one. Puts 9/11 and the Iraq war in a new light as well.
FWIW Israel is losing the campaign. Can't paint dead children in a good way, not even with Twitter.
Ron Paul Calls Israeli aggression in Gaza atrocious massacre. Press TV
http://www.secretsofthefed.com/presstv-ron-paul-calls-israeli-aggression-in-gaza-an-atrocious-massacre-video/
bunny you are disinforming (on purpose?).
The vido is several year old, and has no bearing on 2012.
Regardless, what do you think Mr Paul would have said if the missiles would fall in TX - his home state?
Once thing is sure, the TX citizens would solve the problem once and for all....
(I suspect that the Gazan will do better not to mess up with Ron Paul and TX)
Hasbarats working overtime.
How they can make this evil socially acceptable?
Were one to have an account on cia-book or twitter, one would wish to post these links and pictures for commentary on those pages.
WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT SUPPORT THE EVIL APARTHEID NAZI STATE OF ISRAEL!!!!
THE HORRORS OF WAR:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhJwdLi5wfw
Germany 1940-Iseael 2009:
http://whatreallyhappened.com/IMAGES/GazaHolo/index.html
WHO PROFITS FROM THIS HORRIBLE EVIL?
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=dead+palestinians&bav=on.2,or.r_gc...
.
Ceasefire, and then a bus explosion killing 26. Could this be an act upon itself to gain support for the cease of the ceasefire? I've seen Canadian police dressed up as looters.
I've seen a picture of a Heinekan looter wearing a pancake on his head too!
I want details on that Canadian police dressed up as looters thing. You got em?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbLU9tdDwxo&feature=related
G20 charges coming against Toronto police commandershttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/05/17/g20-police-charge...
Thanks
The first vid has it's moments, but it is as likely a Black Bloc group in action as it is Toronto police. As Blac Bloc likes to say of themselves, "We're the ones with the balls."
The second link article is about likely prosecutions of 20 or so Toronto Police for using excessive force ..... suprising only if you live anywhere other than Canada, and for damn sure if you live in New York. I'm talking about that prosecution part.
Nobody died. Anywhere from 10 to 16 people were "wounded".
If Hamas or anyone else wanted to send a message that they "could if they wanted to" despite the blockade and despite the massive bombings on Gaza, this bus bombing without casualties would be it.
Israel has no chance but to retreat now. Unless they go ALL IN and start a massive and bloody ground offensive. Then they're dealing with 1.7 million of whom probably a good percentage is going to fight tooth and nail and to their death.
Either way, Israel has LOST the propaganda around this war. Israel LOST. The sooner they realize this, the better for the world before things get real ugly and out of hand.
And when it doesn't work, Israel bombs the journalists.
The social media war is won by Israel because no one trusts the "other side". There are very few real journalistic stories from Hamas about what they are doing wrong, how they are harming civilians.
I believe we have reached the point where Isreal wins the social war by default as their truthfulness is closer to that held by the average person. If people equated themselves to Hamas, they would support Hamas. No one wants to be associated with Hamas.
Also, kudos to the American military. Clearly their exemplary conduct in Iraq and Afghanistan has paid dividends as the western message is getting through. Arab Spring will be a success.
You're a douche.
I'm just waiting for the stories of babies being thrown out of incubators.
GW made it really easy for you in the last video he posted. Don't you get it? And your shameful admission of using the American military as a conduit to funnel tax dollars into the defense industry is an all time low for you.....at least that's the way i read it.
Hamas is strictly about emotion. They don't even try to govern. Everyone knows that.
Do you think a Petreaus type leader would have resigned if he were in the Hamas organization?
Do you think the world has forgotten Tarhir Square and those little "groping" incidents?
Why were good people killed in Benghazi trying to keep missles out of the hands of lunatics? (I'm curious why the CIA compound wasn't overrun when those two individuals were killed but I suspect there is another chapter to that story that we won't hear about.)
Why don't you respect Jews?
There are so many questions that the Muslim world will not answer truthfully that the real world is tuning them out. Nobody cares about Gaza, or their blockade that clearly doesn't work, or the positioning by Hamas of weapons systems in school yards, near mosques, etc. If the international muslim community really cared about these outrages propogated by Hamas, they would have nipped things in the bud. In simple parlance, Muslims should have pulled Hamas aside and told them not to make the rest of us look bad. If they were to do that, they would need to do that to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt also.
You are concerned about the Israeli success with a social media campaign performing damage control, when the global audience doesn't care about the issue? Do you really think you have friends?
It's news if someone "hasn't" called for the extermination of the Jews. That makes them the underdogs. They are like 'us'. Go watch some "Old Jews Telling Jokes" videos on Youtube. Most people will laugh along. Try to find some "Old Arabs Telling Jokes" videos on Youtube.
It is a surprise to you that the world aligns itself with Israel? Have you grown up under a tarp? No one wants the type of government/leadership that comes from a Muslim theocracy. Look at how Pakistan has regressed vis-a-vis India.
Do you really think people respect your opinion?
"Why were good people killed in Benghazi trying to keep missles out of the hands of lunatics? "
Wow...you are uninformed, ignorant, or both!
Our "god people" were putting weapons INTO the hands of those that are destroying Syria. Get your facts straight...another CIA/MOSSAD/SAUDI gun-running op gone bad. What's new?!
Your avatar pic obviously isn't you....you are hasbara troll through and through. Not foolin' anybody!
The world certainly DOES NOT align with Israel and I'm not talking about the politicians but if a politician was to so much as to say boo about that place, he/she would have to deal with EU and US aggression prodded by Zionist provocateurs.
And to call Israel an underdog is rhetoric reminiscent of the Holocaust Industry. You must also distinguish the Jew from the Zionist. I live in a Jewish community but I would never welcome a Zionist into my house.
As for Arabs telling funny jokes, what do you think of Seinfeld?
http://www.albawaba.com/slideshow/western-americans-arab-celebrities-lis...
The world "does" align with Israel... just sayin'...
Comedians, Scientists, Musicians, artists of all types, business leaders, community leaders, doctors, lawyers, etc. Many are Jewish. They are respected and cherished.
What the hell are you smoking?
It's not about jews vs. muslims.
One nation puts 1.7 million outside its borders in a cage and establishes a blockade.
That nation gets attacked by resistance fighters of a fractured leadership from within the cage. The nation sends rockets into the cage and supposedly kills the leadership and countless civilians.
You live in a cage. You don't know human kindness. You only get what you take. No one looks out for your best interests.
it's the Palestinians that are caged, and the cage grows smaller with every land grab Israel enacts.
this was shared by another ZH poster, tells it like it is:
http://www.australiansforpalestine.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/PALEST...
I don't need a nationstate to look out for "my best interests" because I don't rely on myth, propaganda and lies, nor do I need to be-little other peoples in order to justify my right to exist.
Israel won't be satisfied until they occupy all land between the Euphrates (top blue stripe on their flag) and the Nile (bottom blue stripe). What has happened in Egypt, Iraq and who is aiding and abetting? The answer is in the symbol just above the eagles head on the back of the US dollar. Connect the stars.
The symbol of the eagle goes all the way back to ancient Egypt... It is Horus, yet few put it together. Think about all the fascist countries that have used the eagle. As far as Israel goes, there is no evidence that the star do David was ever used by a historical king David. This symbol means something else entirely.
Indeed it does John! Here is a link to an excellent discourse on symbolism...
What On Earth Is Happening - Part 3 of 4 | WhatOnEarth93 on Blip
The powerful have long had their own religion, if you want to call it that. Regardless of what most may think about it, these people believe that they are special, given divine power to rule over us... But not by God in the traditional sense. There is a war in the heavens, and has been for a long time. The powerful chose one side... But the masses are not even aware sides are being taken.
William Cooper termed that religion the Mysteries. Only the adepts learn to worship Lucifer, he being the light to illuminate the mind making them god. A now 6000 yr. war, Good vs. Evil, in which evil has prevailed. I believe we are experiencing the changing of the tide.
so do I, maybe from a slightly different perspective, but certainly I believe we must re-visit the specifics of the drama in order to purge the control by violence meme that history is so fond of.
there will be a revealing of certain narratives, and more awareness of those who need to manipulate in order to "rule" others.
and there will be blood.
i agree, this is the time of revelation. most of what people believe they know is lies. dark side in control for far too long.
and there will be blood.
It is a shame it is going to have to come to that but the psychopathy of those that control by violence must end. I am prepared to die for my progeny.
If you have the time and inclination, I am interested in your thoughts on Nabi Musa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabi_Musa
How can a people call Moses their prophet, worship the God of Abraham, and kill Jews because that God gave them land thousands of years ago?
If you don't think it wise to respond, I'll understand.
Rev. 2,9 and 3,9... beware of those that say they are jews, and are not, but are of the synogoge of satan.
no offense, but you you are going to have to unlearn a lifetime of propaganda and mind control before you have any hope of figuring out what is really going on.
There's a difference between "not looking out for someone's interest" and "making it my best interest to whack someone else dead".
So what was with that thing that got thrown into the bus?
I think the world doesn't understand why muslims call Moses a prophet yet want to take the land the God of Abraham gave his people. Do the muslims hate the God of Abraham? Do they hate one of their prophets? Do they hate all of their prophets? Do the muslims know what they want?
Your ignorance is exceeded only by your ignorance
That's ironic. Your comment was mostly emotion