Is the IDF telling the right story to the world ?

Is the IDF telling the right story to the world ?

From The Times of Israel Daily Briefing by The Times of Israel

May 8, 2026 · 43 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the IDF's communication strategy and challenges in the wake of international criticism following the Hamas invasion.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus . Each Friday, join host  diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Israel has had a rough time of it on the international stage since the Hamas invasion of October 7, 2023 and the subsequent wars. Allegations of collective punishment, genocide, and targeting of religious sites have been made by some of Israel's closest allies, and support for the Jewish state is plummeting in the West. Much of the criticism leveled at Israel, justified or not, revolves around what the world sees from the battlefield. The IDF has a large, well-oiled public communications machine. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit does things other militaries can only dream of. At the same time, there is a feeling in Israel and among its friends that the IDF is too slow and bureaucratic to effectively get its message out in the age of social media and AI. LTC Nadav Shoshani, who returned to active duty in the wake of October 7, argues that despite Israel's inherent disadvantages, the IDF is effectively communicating to the world. In an interview the day before he steps down as the IDF's international…

People in this episode

Host: Lazar Berman

Guest: LTC Nadav Shoshani

Topics covered

  • IDF communication
  • international relations
  • media strategy
  • war coverage
  • public perception
  • Hamas invasion
  • Israel's reputation

Keywords

  • IDF
  • Hamas
  • international relations
  • media strategy
  • public perception
  • war coverage
  • Israel
  • Gaza

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IDF, Hamas

Places: Israel, Gaza

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