Secret anti-BDS Conference Told US Jewish Students Don’t See Israel as ‘Civilized’ or a ‘Democracy’

The Ministry of Tourism’s attempt to market Israel as a cool destination (girls and bikinis) has failed. (MAXIM Cover, 2007)

Here’s the story in Hebrew. In a nutshell:

Minister Gilad Erdan has organized a secret conference in Jerusalem, with 150 top supporters of Israel. American right wing pollster Frank Luntz [who has earlier stated that Zionism is becoming a dirty word for US elites] presented statistics:

– The Ministry of Tourism’s attempt to market Israel as a cool destination (girls and bikinis) has failed.

– Jewish American students have an increasingly negative image of Israel:

-Just 42% believe Israel wants peace.

-Just 38% believe “Israel is civilized and Western”.

-Just 31% believe Israel is a democracy.

– No less than 21% believe the US should side with the Palestinians.

The new, or not so new, agenda put forward by Luntz and co: Israel’s supporters should say that they are in favour of a dialogue and peace-building through diplomacy, and accuse BDS supporters of obstructing dialogue, and spreading hate.

– Read more: Pollster Luntz tells secret anti-BDS conference most US Jewish students don’t see Israel as ‘civilized’ or a ‘democracy’ – Mondoweiss

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