Summary
Literally “explanation” — Israeli public diplomacy, advocacy and propaganda abroad — which Peace, Peace, When There Is No Peace presents, quoting Sharett against it, as unable to conceal the facts of the refugee camps or stabilize the post-1948 status quo (Peace, Peace, When There Is No Peace, PDF p.83-84).
Details
- The book lists channelling propaganda and “hasbara” to foreign countries in favour of freezing the existing situation as part of the government of Israel’s plan to conserve the status quo; the translator’s note glosses the term as also translated variously as public diplomacy, advocacy, image-building, public relations campaign and propaganda (Peace, Peace, When There Is No Peace, PDF p.83-84).
- Sharett, then prime minister and foreign minister (7/12/53, Knesset Records Vol.15, p.320): “We should not exaggerate the value of hasbara, and we should not hang our hopes on hasbara alone. Not everything can be done or justified by hasbara. There are facts that penetrate deeply, which make an impression that no hasbara can conceal. … All the camps of Jewish displaced people have been removed, but camps have been set up for Arab refugees, and no hasbara in the world … can change the final fact that these camps exist” (PDF p.84).
Related pages
Peace, Peace, When There Is No Peace, Moshe Sharett, Right of Return