For decades, Israel struggled to develop an independent media operation that could present the Zionist case to audiences worldwide. Dr. Ron Schleifer, a psychological warfare expert at Ariel University, says the challenge has become urgent as hostile narratives increasingly shape international opinion.

Schleifer traced the problem to Israel’s early political and media structure. The country’s socialist leadership established tight control over newspapers, radio and television, limiting ideological competition. Although technology and social media have weakened government control, Israel’s traditional media remains largely focused on domestic audiences.

Meanwhile, Qatar transformed Al Jazeera from a small Arabic broadcaster into an international influence operation. Schleifer described the network as a central propaganda tool used by Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood to direct anger toward Israel and spread their message across regions and languages.