Israel, for many people, isn't just a country -- it's an idea that remains contested, fighting for its existence and its right to exist. And the fight isn't just on battlefields, over disputed land. It's increasingly fought in the media and online, over the hearts and minds of ordinary people around the world. In this battle, the weapon of choice is "hasbara" -- a Hebrew word that literally means "explanation" but that is better translated as public diplomacy or public relations. Unsurprisingly, hasbara has itself come under attack, with some considering it a euphemism for state-sanctioned propaganda. But the truth is that, while the Israeli government -- like all governments -- is engaged in public relations and makes efforts to explain and defend its own policies, a great deal of hasbara for Israel is done privately, by nonprofit organizations and individual citizens, with no input from the government at all. And, appropriately for a pluralistic country like Israel, hasbara doesn't speak with just one voice. What is appropriate for one organization, communicating a particular message to a particular audience, may be totally inappropriate and counterproductive for another. In this episode of Israel Hayom Insider, Opinion Editor Steve Ganot speaks with video producer Yona Morgenstern about hasbara and her efforts to present Israel in a positive light. Morgenstern does not work for the government or a nonprofit organization. But when she perceived a need to present a different face of her city and her country than was shown by much of the press, she got busy, putting her creative talents as a dancer and experience in marketing to work. She made her first video, "Happy Beit Shemesh," a collaboration with YG Productions, in response to the negative press that her hometown was getting as a result of conflicts between ultra-Orthodox and other residents. Morgenstern's latest video, "A day in the life of an Israeli," is one of 78 short films competing in the "Inspired by Israel" video contest sponsored by the Israel Video Network. The contest closes soon, so be sure to go to the site and vote for your favorite video. Anchor: Steve Ganot. Camera: Doron Persoud. Makeup: Rona Ben-Ezra. Archive: Yona Morgenstern.
