Israel is losing the war of narratives: Einat Wilf unveils plan to fight back

The Reservists-Economic Party unveiled a seven-point national policy plan on Sunday aimed at countering anti-Israel narratives internationally, calling for a major expansion of the Foreign Ministry's resources and the integration of what it terms the "war of consciousness" into Israel's national security decision-making.

The proposal, authored by former MK Dr. Einat Wilf, who is running third on the party's Knesset list, outlines measures ranging from establishing a centralized information and intelligence hub to building international political alliances and using diplomatic, legal, and economic tools against supporters of terrorism.

According to the party, Wilf would lead the plan's implementation in the next Knesset and government, should the party secure a role in either.

The proposal marks a shift from Wilf's previously stated arguments about Israel's failures in the international arena toward a formal policy platform setting out how the party believes the next government should address them.

At the center of the plan is a call to treat international public opinion and narratives as national security considerations, rather than issues handled primarily through public diplomacy after government decisions have already been made.

Seven-point plan calls for diplomatic overhaul

The first component would require Israeli decision-makers to consider the international narrative implications of diplomatic and security decisions as part of the decision-making process itself.

The second calls for shifting from a reactive posture to a proactive one, in which Israel seeks to shape the international debate rather than primarily respond to criticism and accusations.

The proposal also calls for transforming the Foreign Ministry into a professional institution with funding, resources, and standing comparable to those of the Defense Ministry.

Another central component is the establishment of a hub to coordinate reliable information and intelligence at the speed of social media, allowing Israel to respond more rapidly to developments in the international information environment.

The remaining measures focus on building strategic alliances with international opinion leaders and parliamentarians, deploying diplomatic, legal, and economic tools against supporters of terrorism, and establishing a new international agenda rather than operating within frameworks set by Israel's adversaries.

The party did not specify the proposed budget for these measures, the structure of the new coordination hub, or a timetable for implementation.

The proposal comes as the government has already increased its public diplomacy spending. In December 2025, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich agreed on a NIS 2.35 billion allocation for Israel advocacy efforts in the 2026 budget, alongside plans to strengthen the Foreign Ministry's public diplomacy operations.

Wilf's proposal, however, calls for a broader transformation of the role that international narratives play in Israeli policymaking, rather than limiting the response to communications campaigns.

Wilf: 'This is not hasbara'

"The war of consciousness is just as important as the war on the battlefield. Hasbara is appropriate when responding to criticism of Israel. But we are confronting an ideology that is constructing a justification for the annihiliation of the Jewish people," Wilf said in a statement accompanying the plan.

She argued that hostility toward Israel and Zionism was increasingly being legitimized by international institutions, universities, and media organizations, creating consequences that extended beyond the country's reputation.

"This is not merely damage to Israel’s image. It lays the groundwork for attacks on Jews, sanctions, boycotts, on Israel’s freedom of action. Faced with such a threat, Israel must move beyond hasbara and begin conducting a national war of consciousness."

The position is consistent with arguments Wilf made in a recent conversation with The Jerusalem Post, in which she described the international battle over narratives as a central challenge facing Israel and the Jewish people.

In a separate discussion, Wilf also outlined her broader policy vision, including her approach to Gaza, the need to confront the ideology underpinning hostility toward Israel, and her ambition to serve as foreign minister in the next government.

The new platform places those positions within a series of proposed government actions, particularly concerning the Foreign Ministry's responsibilities and Israel's diplomatic strategy.

Yoaz Hendel, chairman of the Reservists-Economic Party, also backed the initiative, arguing that Israel had fallen behind its adversaries in shaping international perceptions.

"Qatar is an enemy state that finances our enemies," Hendel said, accusing Qatar and the Islamist axis of having gained the upper hand in the international battle over narratives while Israel and Diaspora Jewish communities concentrated on conventional public diplomacy.

"Just as we turned the tide on the battlefield, we must do the same in the war of consciousness."

The announcement follows renewed pro-Palestinian demonstrations and events surrounding the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks, which the party cited as part of the backdrop for its initiative.