Israel's US spin doctors

—By Amos Kenigsberg

| Wed Jan. 3, 2001 1:00 AM PST

While Israeli soldiers continue to clash with Palestinians in the Middle East, Israel is also waging a war on another front, nearly 6,000 miles away: the war for American public opinion. And Israel has found American public relations firms to be valuable allies in their efforts.

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Some American PR gurus have gone so far as to help Israel for no charge, BRILL'S CONTENT reports. In October, an Israeli consul general met with 12 high-profile spin doctors who offered free advice on how the nation could avoid looking like a vicious Goliath opposite the Palestinians' innocent David. Among their suggestions: equipping soldiers with video cameras to document rock-throwing and armed Palestinians in the heat of battle.

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Palestinian officials say Israel's public relations efforts have succeeded in solidifying US political support and preventing the international community from becoming actively involved in the Middle East conflict.

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