Leaked documents published by WikiLeaks and confirmed through filings with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) reveal that the Israeli government is paying American social media influencers up to $7,000 per post to promote pro-Israel content.
The campaign—managed by Bridges Partners LLC and coordinated via Havas Media Group Germany—is part of a $900,000 budget allocated for recruiting and training over a dozen influencers.
According to Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Responsible Statecraft, the initiative aims to shape public opinion amid growing backlash over Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
This effort is one arm of a broader foreign influence strategy launched after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar secured a twentyfold increase in Israel’s global PR budget, raising it to $150 million in late 2024, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.
Documents also show that Israel pays $1.5 million per month to U.S. digital strategist Brad Parscale, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, to generate AI-driven pro-Israel messaging at scale.
Parscale registered as a foreign agent under FARA in early 2025, according to Mediaite and MSN News.
Public reaction has been swift. Critics on social media and independent outlets have called the campaign a “public bribe” aimed at manipulating U.S. discourse and deflecting attention from alleged war crimes in Gaza, now entering their third year.
Further controversy erupted after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with pro-Israel influencers in New York during his visit to the UN General Assembly in September 2025.
Attendees included Debra Leah, Lizzy Savetsky, Emily Austin, Shay Zabo, Hannah Faulkner, The LatinxZionist, and Dania Avner, as confirmed by JTA and The Jerusalem Post.
Netanyahu emphasized the strategic importance of social media, calling platforms like TikTok and X “the most important battlegrounds” for shaping global opinion.
Meanwhile, a September 2025 poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College found:
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• 51% of U.S. voters oppose sending more aid to Israel
• Support for Palestinians rose to 35%, while support for Israel fell to 34%—a reversal from 2023
• 68% of voters under 30 oppose further aid
• 58% say Israel should halt military operations even if hostages remain
• 40% believe Israel is deliberately targeting civilians—up from 22% in 2023
This marks a dramatic shift in American public sentiment and raises urgent questions about the ethics and legality of foreign-funded influence campaigns targeting domestic audiences.
Sources:
Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
https://www.jta.org/2025/09/30/united-states/israels-secret-esther-project-doj-filings-reveal-paid-us-influencer-campaign-amid-ai-powered-pr-blitz
Responsible Statecraft
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/israel-influencers-netanyahu/
The Jerusalem Post
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-869219
Mediaite / MSN News
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/former-trump-campaign-manager-registers-as-foreign-agent-for-israel/
