Israel has frantically spent $100m to manipulate American public opinion

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Israel has spent around $100 million on digital campaigns targeting American audiences to improve its image following conflicts in the Middle East, using platforms like Google, YouTube, and AI-driven messaging. Despite this large investment, Israel's favorability in the U.S. has continued to decline, raising questions about the effectiveness of such costly public relations efforts.

Israel has invested approximately $100 million in efforts to influence American public opinion in the wake of recent conflicts in the Middle East, according to newly uncovered documents and filings. These efforts, which began after the outbreak of intense hostilities on October 7, 2023, encompass a wide range of digital advertising campaigns, public relations initiatives, and online content creation designed to shape perceptions of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its stance toward Iran.

An investigation revealed that the Israeli government, through its Government Advertising Agency, launched a campaign valued at 174 million shekels (around $52 million), which was active from June 2025, during a 12-day conflict involving Iran, until December of the same year. Significant portions of this budget—90 million shekels ($27 million)—were directed toward advertisements on Google platforms, with additional funds allocated to YouTube (60 million shekels, or $18 million), the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) at 10 million shekels ($3 million), and digital advertising networks including Outbrain and Teads receiving a combined 14 million shekels ($4.2 million).

The campaign involved a complex network of digital outreach, including the use of AI-generated messages sent to American audiences, as well as the creation of websites and articles designed to impact the output of chatbot technologies such as ChatGPT and Claude. These efforts were intended to counter a notable decline in Israeli support among certain segments of the U.S. population, particularly young conservative voters.

Despite the significant financial commitment, polling data indicates that Israel’s favorability within the United States has continued to decline. Sources cite frustration within Israeli circles over the campaign’s limited success in halting this erosion of support. The reports raise broader questions about the effectiveness of expensive digital persuasion strategies in influencing public opinion during protracted international conflicts.

The findings are based on government procurement documents and filings submitted under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), providing insight into the scale and scope of the Israeli government’s investment in overseas messaging campaigns. They highlight the increasing role of digital platforms and artificial intelligence in modern geopolitical information efforts.

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