Israel Disburses IDR 731 Billion to Sway US Public Opinion

Millions of text messages from senders named Emma or Sarah, belonging to a group called Friends for Peace, have flooded the mobile phones of American citizens in recent months. The messages, which ask about the impact of US-Israel peace talks with Iran on global security, were not sent by humans but were driven by artificial intelligence. This massive digital operation is part of an influence campaign funded by the Israeli government and run by a firm owned by Brad Parscale, a former strategy advisor to Donald Trump. The move comes amid plummeting US public support for Israel. According to a Pew Research poll last March, around 60% of American adults now hold an unfavourable view of Israel due to its handling of the war in Gaza and tensions with Iran. The Israeli government has reportedly signed a contract worth more than US$45 million with Brad Parscale. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that Israel has set a 2026 budget of over US$700 million to expand the state’s efforts to shape awareness and improve its global image. Nick Cleveland-Stout, a researcher from the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, noted that Israel is on track to spend more money than any other country on influence efforts in the US disclosed to the federal government this year. Parscale’s involvement has sparked controversy due to his position as chief strategy officer at Salem Media, a conservative media conglomerate that hosts popular presenters such as Hugh Hewitt and Lara Trump. Although Salem Media denied paying presenters for specific narratives, documents show the integration of narrative messaging into the network’s properties. Beyond mainstream media, the campaign also targets specific segments. One of the most cutting-edge strategies executed by Parscale’s team involves creating a pro-Israel content ecosystem designed to trigger positive results on AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude. By building websites such as Allyvia.org, they seek to ensure that when users ask AI about the US-Israel alliance, the bot will reference the sources they have prepared. However, these tactics are beginning to be noticed by citizens. Beth Surdut, an artist who received messages from Friends for Peace, became suspicious because the conversation felt circular and mechanical. ‘Even if it were a cause I believed in, I would not want to talk to an AI,’ she asserted. Despite the enormous investment, the campaign’s effectiveness remains questionable. Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, offered a sharp comment on the effort: ‘They are trying to sell something that cannot be sold.’