That Israeli Information Machine in Action: Overlooking the "Bloody Conflict"

There has been an exceptional amount of media fluff about the wondrous Israel information/propaganda/hasbara effort in the Gaza conflict. Yet, for all the acknowledged prowess of Tel Aviv on televisions-talkboards-YouTube-Twitter, here's a rule-of-thumb: the dead, cold reality of civilian deaths, sooner or later, will overtake your use flashy, hot new media.

Here's an example:

David Saranga, the Israeli Consul for Media and Public Affairs in New York, was quick on the Twitter this morning about an article in The Guardian of London on Israel's efforts: "Winning the Media War". Rachel Shabi notes that the coordinated hasbara effort has "got world media repeating the Israeli government's core messages practically verbatim".

So what's the problem? Well, Saranga might have done well to check the secondary headline on The Guardian piece before hitting his "Send" button:

Twitter, YouTube, blogs – Israel has proved a master of networking. Shame it's being used to promote a bloody conflict

Orwellian Press Release of the Day --- The Israeli Consulate and "Waltz with Bashir"

The Israeli Consul for Media and Public Affairs in New York, David Saranga, has just sent out via Twitter: "Israel's 'Waltz with Bashir' on 1982 Lebanon War, wins Golden Globe for best foreign film".

Here are some comments on Waltz with Bashir, which I am certain have no relevance at all to the current conflict in Gaza:

"The message of the futility of war has rarely been painted with such bold strokes"; "an extraordinary, harrowing, provocative picture"; "will leave its mark forever on the ethics of war films".