The Foreign Ministry and the Re-Branding of Israel; Again?

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On Wednesday evening, I was among 200 bloggers in Israel who attended Nefesh b’Nefesh’s first annual Bloggers Conference held at NBN offices in Givat Shaul.

There was nothing much new to come out of the various panel discussions, Q & As beyond the opportunities for face-to-face, in-person networking amongst bloggers. But the deli and salads were great.

For me, the comments at the conference compelled a re-focusing on old-fashioned proven methods of SEO — swapping blogroll links and blog comments with other bloggers in Jewish blogosphere. read more

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Speaking of Israel’s National “Brand”

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Commentary;

Yep, that’s me, making the point that needs to be made to the Foreign Ministry, and indeed every ministry and functionary of Israeli governance again and again and again until it sinks irrevocably into their consciousness; “But we ARE a Jewish state.”

A hat tip goes to Batya Medad for taking this shot.

And I ought to give a plug to Batya’s husband Yisrael Medad who has had a distinguished career serving B’nai Yisrael and Yishuv Eretz Yisrael.

This post expands on two areas of the Brand managment presentation made by a representative of the Foreign Ministry at Nefesh b’Nefesh’s Blogger’s Conference. read more

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Thursday War News: IDF Hunts Gaza Terrorist Infiltrators; Tanzim Operative Nabbed Near Shechem, 122 Illegals, 15 Terrorists Nabbed, Molotov Cocktail Hurled at T.A. Municipal Offices

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Wednesday War News: Kassam Hits Sha’ar Hanegev, Barak Clossing Gaza Crossings for 1 Day; 7 Terrorists Nabbed, Jew Injured in Stoning North of Jerusalem, Stabber Nabbed in Hevron

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The Why’s of Israel’s PR Failures

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Commentary;

Martin Sherman’s comments on the abysmal failure of Israel’s hasbara allude to the fact that a relative handful of wealthy elitists who wield power through the consolidation of much of the nation’s financial resources, as well as through the intelligencia and the judicial system in order to “to shape events here, to mold opinions and to determine what processes should be set in motion and which should not.”

This “shaping of events by the elitists” has produced side affects which have further compounded Israel’s already apparent systemic hasbara failures. read more

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Tuesday War News: Arab Infiltrator Nabbed Near Kissufim, Israel to Replace Gaza’s Worn Shekalim; 149 of Terrorists Set for Release doing Time for Attempted Murder, 8 Terrorists Nabbed, Syria’s Missile Tests While Livni Calls 1701 “Best Choice,” 1 Jew Injured in Hevron Stonings

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Arab Infiltrator Arrested Near Kissufim

Israel to Replace Worn Out Shekel Notes in Gaza Strip

8 PA Arab [Terrorist] Fugitives Caught

Almagor: 149 of the Terrorists Slated for Release Serving Time for Attempting Murder, by Dr. Aaron Lerner (IMRA)

Commentary;
These are amongst the terrorists which the
cabinet approved by vote in 3 minutes flat. MB

‘IDF Detects Syrian Test-Launches of Ground to Ground Missiles’

Excerpts;

Syria’s arsenal of missiles is based mainly on antiquated soviet ware upgraded and improved in Syria, the missiles – with a range of 300-700 km. – can still reach any target in Israel. read more

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Monday War News: Rock Attacks South of Shechem, Gush Etzion, 2 Terrorists Nabbed, FAyad Demands Release of All PA Prisoners, Release of 200 Terrorists Approved by Cabinet in 3 Minutes Flat

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Rock Attack [Near Hawara, South of Shechem] Damages Vehicle

Two Wanted Terrorists Apprehended [1 Near Ramallah, 1 in Hevron]

Arabs Pelt, Damage Bus on Gush Etzion Road

Fayad: ‘We Demand the Release of All Prisoners Without Exception’

[Ministerial] Committee Approves Release of Two Prisoners With Blood on Hands

Excerpt;

“The two prisoners are Muhammad Abu Ali, who killed an IDF reservist in Hebron as well as a Palestinian suspected of collaborating with Israel, and Said Uteba, who planted three bombs in central Israeli cities, one of which killed Tzila Galili in Petah Tikva.” read more

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Sunday War News: Kassam Rocket Hits Eshkol Region; Lebanese: Hezbollah Violating 1701; Cabinet Approves Release of 200 Terrorists as Terrorist Re-Arrested for Shooting at IDF

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Israel, the US and Russia’s War on Georgia

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Commentary;

Caroline Glick dispels the dangerous, outrageous myth promulgated and inculcated by successive Israeli governments unto the governed that Western or UN forces “will unburden the country of the need to protect itself.” Those of us, however, who pay close attention to history recognize Israel’s founding doctrine that “international legitimacy, peace treaties, alliances and common interests only matter in the presence of the hard power of military force” is as valid today as when Ben-Gurion conceived it. MB read more

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Parsha Eikev 5768: Meriting Eretz Yisrael

by Moshe Burt

Parsha Eikev is equated in terms of one’s being attentive to the little Mitzvot; the details, the Mitzvot that one tends to overlook, to ignore, to tread one’s heels on in the mad dash, but without which the Jewish people would lack the merit which sets us apart from common man. The little mitzvot, the small details are the ones epitomized by V’Ahavtah L’re’echa Komocha — caring for your fellow Jew as for yourself.

And so, we find Parsha Eikev placed on the heels of the end of Parsha Vaetchanan’s teachings regarding tefillin and mezuzah. read more

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