Should Israel Spend More on Public Relations (P/R) and Advertising?

Grandma and grandaughter: how will the Israeli myth influence the use of P/R and advertising?

There is a split in opinion weather to promote Israel internationally using advertising or not. Some people see countries like Spain and Turkey advertising their beaches and ancient ruins as tourist spots. Should Israel do the same? Israeli reporters and PR professionals who see misleading international media reports from Palestinians are fuming. Palestinians are calling to ban Israeli goods and put pressure to release Palestinians imprisoned are getting more attention than Israel. Here people are calling for Israel to spend a little money and time to "correct the lies". On the other side stand government and private organizations which call for a more direct use of promotion funds. There are plenty of opportunities to show Israel's culture, people and government to people around the world. Israel has deployed a policy of sending people on missions to Jewish communities (much like religious missionaries.) Israel has also been supporting cultural and artistic outreach programs which to the government are just as crucial as political interests. With limited budget, the average Israeli citizen if not willing to spend money on both cultural mission and mainstream international media advertising.

On Tel Aviv streets there is a tendency to discount the influence of international press and world opinion. Israel has the self image of a place where we do things, not talk about them. As a matter of fact, this ideology is one of the myths Israeli hold so dear in comparison with our Arab neighbors. In Israel we do things, around us they talk about things. But as Israel has changed from an undeveloped, agricultural underdog to a technologically advanced and economically developed state, the myth of the past is still with us. I don't think the myth is going to change until the generation from the old days fades. Myths are strong here in Israel. Maybe stronger than in other places. The myth of Israel rising out of the holocaust ashes is stronger than anyone can imagine. That myth could take years to explain on this blog. It simply pushes all criticism of Israel to the back of the mind. The Arabs and Christians see it as blinding Zionism. But that is not exactly accurate. Zionism was a movement to bring European Jews to Palestine in the 1880s. The myth of Israel created out of the horrors of Nazi Germany is much stronger. The problem with holding on to that myth over and above everything else is the inability to think more creatively in today's terms. To the Zionist and the Israel out of the holocaust believers, it is hard to see something beyond. In reality, Zionism has done what was imagined in 1880 Europe. Actually, Israel as a state is much more than what the European Zionists imagined. It is also much different than what was imagined. European dreams were based in the life they had, Israel is in a different place with different people. The same is true with the establishment of Israel as a state with vibrant economic, political and social life. The reality here is different, but the dreams of our grandparents from Europe are still echoing in our psyche. Maybe we just need to tough it out, the echoes in our minds are just too vibrant to push back. Our parents wanted a Jewish state, we got one. Now our children will have to make it more to their own liking. They will have to talk more to the world and show less.