Monday, July 31, 2006

Cyberwars...

Israel backed by army of cyber-soldiers

From
Yonit Farago in Jerusalem

WHILE Israel fights Hezbollah with tanks and aircraft, its supporters are campaigning on the internet.
Israel’s Government has thrown its weight behind efforts by supporters to counter what it believes to be negative bias and a tide of pro-Arab propaganda. The Foreign Ministry has ordered trainee diplomats to track websites and chatrooms so that networks of US and European groups with hundreds of thousands of Jewish activists can place supportive messages.

In the past week nearly 5,000 members of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) have downloaded special “megaphone” software that alerts them to anti-Israeli chatrooms or internet polls to enable them to post contrary viewpoints. A student team in Jerusalem combs the web in a host of different languages to flag the sites so that those who have signed up can influence an opinion survey or the course of a debate.

Jonny Cline, of the international student group, said that Jewish students and youth groups with their understanding of the web environment were ideally placed to present another side to the debate.

“We’re saying to these people that if Israel is being bashed, don’t ignore it, change it,” Mr Cline said. “A poll like CNN’s takes just a few seconds to vote in, but if thousands take part the outcome will be changed. What’s vital is that the international face of the conflict is balanced.”

Yes, that's right: what's supposed to be a place of open debate becomes a weapon of propaganda. What a lesson in Liberal Democratic values these students are getting. And they are supposed to become the next political elite? G-d help us all...

Doron Barkat, 29, in Jerusalem, spends long nights trawling the web to try to swing the debate Israel’s way. “When I see internet polls for or against Israel I send out a mailing list to vote for Israel,” he said. “It can be that after 15 minutes there will be 400 votes for Israel.

“It’s very satisfying. There are also forums where Lebanese and Israelis talk.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry must avoid direct involvement with the campaign but is in contact with international Jewish and evangelical Christian groups, distributing internet information packs.

Amir Gissin, the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s public relations director, said: “The internet’s become a leading tool for news, shaping the world view of millions. Our problem is the foreign media shows Lebanese suffering, but not Israeli. We’re bypassing that filter by distributing pictures showing how northern Israelis suffer from Katyusha rocket attacks.”

Bypassing filters... These people obviously don't watch the news or have a built-in filter causing temporary blindness when the Western media report from inside Israel. I've seen reports of Katyusha damage and the difficult situation of the Israeli citizens in Northern Israel from the BBC, ABC, Sky, CNN, CBS, Euronews and Fox.

"Our problem is the foreign media shows Lebanese suffering, but not Israeli." No, your problem is that they don't ONLY show Israeli suffering and that, how bl**dy dare they, they show also the carnage in Lebanon...

Anyway, thanks for giving the game away...

15 Comments:

At 6:18 PM, Blogger Mad Zionist said...

Nice to see you over at my blog, Gert. I don't care what you say about how you view yourself, but I view you as an anti-Zionist Marxist. Sorry, but that's the way I see it. However, I permit people of all walks of life to comment at my site, some perhaps even left of you. You are welcome to comment at my site all you like, just be honest and forthcoming about your position, please.

I realize you do not like dissenting views at your site, so unless you tell me otherwise I will not comment here further out of respect for your wishes.

-MZ

 
At 8:20 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmmm,

Came over to see and damned if Madz isn't right.

The very first post is whining about Israel using typical Leftist tactics against the IslamoNazis!!!!

Since you are obviously Leftist, what is the complaint? That Israel is trying to protect itself against a Eurotrash and basically worldwide LEFTY BIAS????

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

You MORON!!!!

 
At 8:48 PM, Blogger Texas Bankruptcy Nerd said...

Gert,

I would be lying if I said I wasn't pleased by your two most recent posts. Pay no attention to our false middle Zionist commentators. Don't be a stranger 'round ma parts, y'hear?

 
At 10:09 PM, Blogger What is "Occupation" said...

hi guys, yes gert gets real upset if you call him names, so dont call him names...

 
At 11:09 PM, Blogger Gert said...

what is "occupation":

Try and remember: you're on probation here.

I will delete all future and past comments from you here, if you refuse to behave.

Call it what you like ("censorship", "sensitivity" etc) but I really don't need trouble from you, so tone it down or go and curse me to hell and back on your own and highly impressive blog.

 
At 2:48 AM, Blogger What is "Occupation" said...

hey gert,

do what you must, but i did not say anything attacking you, i stated a fact, you dont like being called names...

as for your probation, if you cant handle the truth, delete me

 
At 7:03 AM, Blogger J.UL1R4 said...

Gert has been honest about his position, some people just don't want to listen I guess.

Good find Gert very interesting.

 
At 11:36 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ha! Bloody hilarious, Gert. Don't they realise they're
helping you get higher rankings [everywhere] and therefore wider audience the more site hits they give you -- even as they prove your point?

MA's in Dumbology - or what?

 
At 10:42 PM, Blogger Richard said...

Got to hand it to you Gert, you're getting more & more popular. And it seems like Rex said - they're giving you double-whamies all the time.

 
At 12:24 PM, Blogger Wolfie said...

Back to the subject of this post a moment...

I've been observing this phenomena for some time, spreading on the Internet. However, putting Israel's point of view often seems to boil down to accusing bloggers of being anti-Semitic on the basis of the most mild criticism. Certainly this tactic is hardening the hearts of British bloggers, who have a naturally low tolerance to bull-shit and its definitely not winning friends and influencing people.

 
At 1:29 PM, Blogger What is "Occupation" said...

stated: However, putting Israel's point of view often seems to boil down to accusing bloggers of being anti-Semitic on the basis of the most mild criticism.

No holding israel to a HIGHER standard than it's the arabs surrounding it is anti-semitic

stated: Certainly this tactic is hardening the hearts of British bloggers, who have a naturally low tolerance to bull-shit and its definitely not winning friends and influencing people.

And yet the British can produce a Red Ken Livingstone? Hmm....

 
At 2:50 PM, Blogger Wolfie said...

"what is occupation" :

Your first point is irrational. Standards are by definition both relative and subjective but also non commutative. Ergo criticism of Israeli strategy does not infer praise on Arab strategies. How can that be anti-semitic? Do you understand the meaning of the word?

Your second point is also irrational. Ken Livingstone does not speak for the British people, neither is he well respected. He was elected to run London, nothing more. Even on that ticket he is not well thought of.

Hmm - what? That we permit freedom of speech, even from the lunatic fringe?

 
At 3:05 PM, Blogger What is "Occupation" said...

Wolfie said...

Your first point is irrational. Standards are by definition both relative and subjective but also non commutative. Ergo criticism of Israeli strategy does not infer praise on Arab strategies. How can that be anti-semitic? Do you understand the meaning of the word?

Do you understand that to have one standard for the world, and another HIGHER standard for Israel is racist? and yes anti-semitic...

wolfie: Ken Livingstone does not speak for the British people, neither is he well respected. He was elected to run London, nothing more. Even on that ticket he is not well thought of.

he is the elected MAYOR of Englands Largest City! and you say he is NOT well thought of and does not speak for his countrymen? Oh, sorry to get confused, i thought the MAYOR of a democratic nation DOES speak for his people, ergo the democratic process...

wolfie: That we permit freedom of speech, even from the lunatic fringe?

The lunatic fringe by definition CANNOT be the Majority ELECTED mayor of London. that is oxymoronic at best, specious at worst.

but thanks for being "civil"

 
At 3:35 PM, Blogger Wolfie said...

"i thought the MAYOR of a democratic nation DOES speak for his people"

London is not a nation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_London

Livingstone's role is largely administrative. He is regularly a figure of ridicule in the press here.

Most would consider being judged by a higher standard flattering rather than racist. I never said that it was but you have pulled this "straw man" argument out of thin air.

Am I addressing a child?

 
At 5:38 PM, Blogger Texas Bankruptcy Nerd said...

way to hand it to him, wolfie.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home