Israel Funds MAGA-Affiliated US Influencers Tour to Boost Its Image Among Young Conservatives
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- The Israeli Foreign Ministry is funding a new public diplomacy initiative targeting young conservative Americans aligned with Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) and “America First” movements.
According to Israeli Haaretz, the ministry will sponsor a tour of Israel for 16 US social media influencers under the age of 30. Each influencer has hundreds of thousands to millions of followers. The goal is to counter growing anti-Israel sentiment among younger Americans by promoting content that aligns with Israeli government positions.
Ministry officials say the tour marks a major shift in how Israel shapes public opinion abroad. Traditional outreach, they argue, is no longer effective in the digital age. “We’re working with influencers… their messages are more effective than if they came directly from the ministry,” one official told Haaretz.
The Foreign Ministry expects the campaign to deliver significant media and diplomatic gains.
The new tour will be managed by Israel365, an extremist Zionist organization founded by Rabbi Naphtali “Tuly” Weisz. The group promotes a biblical and political defense of the occupation state of Israel, rejects a two-state solution, and supports full Israeli control over all the land it claims.
Israel365 was awarded the Foreign Ministry contract (worth more than 290,000 shekels (roughly $86,000)) without a tender. Officials cited the group’s ‘unique ability’ to connect pro-Israel messages with MAGA and evangelical audiences.
A key objective of the tour is to strengthen Israel’s standing among the next generation of US conservatives. “While older Republicans still support Israel, younger conservatives are less engaged,” a ministry source said.
The ministry believes it is vital for the MAGA and America First movements to maintain a strong pro-Israel stance, even though both emphasize prioritizing US interests and avoiding foreign entanglements or wars on behalf of other nations. “With the rise of these movements in US politics, it’s essential that they adopt a clear, supportive position on Israel,” a Foreign Ministry document stated.
Israel365 has recently expanded its influence in MAGA circles, participating in key events and helping bring high-profile conservative figures to Israel. The group’s stated mission includes defending Israel and “Western civilization” from both “Progressive Left extremism and global jihad.”
This influencer tour is just one part of a broader campaign. The Foreign Ministry aims to bring 550 influencer delegations to Israel by the end of 2025. Officials say the success of these trips lies in the influencers’ ability to humanize zionist messaging and reach audiences the government cannot.
The influencers are expected to produce posts, stories, and videos during and after the tour, spreading Israel’s preferred narratives across multiple platforms. The Foreign Ministry sees this as a cost-effective way to shape public opinion, particularly among Christian and conservative American audiences.
