Israel - Lebanon border, Rosh Hanikra. Photo: wiki commons.

One wonders what would happen if a group of protestors who claimed to be “peaceful” would be allowed to approach the borders of Canada from all different points? Would media reports say Canadian police were wrong to shoot at people who refused to stop when asked, and then “peacefully” threw rocks at the military authorities? I’d love a group, say of the Occupy Wall Street movement to try such a thing, say at The Federal Reserve this week – one wonders how long it will take for them to be shot and detained – as they should be.  Anyone who doubts me should try it – when law enforcement or the military orders you to stop, just keep advancing forward. Let me know how it goes.

Amazingly, in Israel less than two years after the MV Mavi Marmara (the flotilla) disaster, Israel is facing an attack on its borders March 30^th by “the Global March to Jerusalem.”  The marchers demand a return to all of “occupied Palestine”, and vow “massive marches” at Israel’s northern and southern borders, the “West Bank” (Israel’s biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria) and the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces are preparing for Friday’s march and plan to do all they can to avoid conflict – but I am sure they won’t as the Arabs will manage to manipulate media to create images damaging to Israel.  Today Israel needs to send open letters to the elected officials of the bordering countries notifying them that anyone who dares approach Israel’s border will be handled appropriately – as any sane and civil country would.

The response to the “Global March to Jerusalem” is very simple – and was written in 1923 by the great Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky.  Simple and short – The Iron Wall – a Jewish wall of strength which can’t be broken.

“As long as the Arabs feel that there is the least hope of getting rid of us, they will refuse to give up this hope in return for either kind words or for bread and butter, because they are not a rabble, but a living people. And when a living people yields in matters of such a vital character it is only when there is no longer any hope of getting rid of us, because they can make no breach in the iron wall. Not till then will they drop their extremist leaders whose watchword is ‘Never!’ And the leadership will pass to the moderate groups, who will approach us with a proposal that we should both agree to mutual concessions.” Ze’ev Jabotinsky, The Iron Wall

There is no other country in the world that has the legitimacy of its very existence questioned. The resulting coverage of this “Global March to Jerusalem” will do damage to the Jewish state’s already badly bruised international reputation. The event isn’t being organized by peaceful humanitarians with pure motivations – its being organized by Iran, directly and through terrorist organizations like Hezbollah. Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Jewish organizations, and public relations firms worldwide need to disseminate this background information now, before its front page news as it’s likely to be in a few days.

This is a potential catastrophe brewing, as terrible images could be broadcast to the world following an enemy attack on Israel’s sovereign borders.  Public relations shouldn’t be mishandled and neglected.

Israel is a young country and it often learns things painfully. A justified cause is not enough to be right these days – war preparation includes PR preparation, and PR today is also an element of war.

Ronn Torossian is the CEO of 5WPR, a Top 25 PR Agency and author of Amazon best-selling PR book “For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results with Game-Changing Public Relations,” which is available for purchase here. The book was referred to by Israeli MK Danny Danon as the “best book ever written regarding Israel’s PR.”