A girl wears an Israeli flag at the shore of the Mediterranean Sea on Israel’s Independence Day marking the 73rd anniversary of the creation of the state, at a beach in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 15, 2021. Photo: REUTERS/Corinna Kern

Israel has long understood how to defend itself against conventional military threats. It has built one of the world’s most capable armies, developed sophisticated intelligence services, and repeatedly demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of war and terrorism.

Yet one of the greatest threats facing Israel today is arriving through smartphones, social media feeds, university classrooms, and digital networks that shape how millions of people understand the Jewish State.

For years, Israeli policymakers have tended to view public diplomacy as a secondary concern compared to military and security priorities. That approach may have been understandable in a previous era.

But it is increasingly dangerous in the world we live in today.

Military victories no longer guarantee strategic success if they are accompanied by narrative defeat. And Israel’s adversaries understand this reality exceptionally well.

Groups hostile to Israel have spent years building sophisticated online ecosystems designed to influence public opinion. They have mastered emotional storytelling, visual propaganda, algorithmic amplification, and the language of contemporary activism. They understand how to package complex conflicts into simple narratives that resonate with audiences far removed from the Middle East.

And the results are becoming increasingly visible.

Across much of the Western world, support for Israel has become more polarized. University campuses have witnessed an explosion of anti-Israel activism. Social media platforms are saturated with content portraying Israel through a framework of colonialism, apartheid, and oppression.

Historical context is frequently discarded in favor of emotionally compelling narratives that fit predetermined ideological categories.

This transformation did not occur overnight. It emerged through years of coordinated messaging efforts that recognized a fundamental truth many governments still struggle to accept: people rarely form opinions based solely on facts.

They form opinions through stories.

Facts remain essential. The atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 are undeniable. The murder, rape, kidnapping, and torture of Israeli civilians are documented realities. Yet even events of such magnitude have demonstrated the limits of relying on facts alone to win public support.

The challenge is compounded by the speed of modern information warfare. Every military operation, every controversial statement, every viral video, and every isolated incident can become part of a larger narrative framework within hours. Once established, those narratives are extraordinarily difficult to reverse.

Meanwhile, anti-Israel activists operate within networks that often display remarkable discipline and coordination. Messaging themes spread rapidly across platforms. Influencers amplify each other. Activist groups reinforce common talking points. Content is tailored for maximum emotional impact.

Whether one agrees with their conclusions or not, their understanding of digital influence is difficult to deny.

When international legitimacy erodes, diplomatic support weakens. When diplomatic support weakens, strategic flexibility narrows. And when strategic flexibility narrows, national security becomes more difficult to maintain.

This does not mean Israel should abandon military necessity in favor of popularity. No sovereign nation can outsource its security decisions to social media trends. Nor should Israel compromise its right to defend its citizens against terrorism.

But recognizing the importance of narrative warfare does not require abandoning military realities. It requires understanding that military and informational battles are now interconnected.

History offers countless examples of nations that failed to adapt to changing strategic environments. Their downfall did not result from a lack of strength. It resulted from an inability to recognize that the nature of conflict had evolved.

Israel’s enemies have adapted.

The question is whether Israel’s institutions will adapt with equal urgency.

The Jewish State remains strong. It possesses extraordinary human capital, technological innovation, military capability, and democratic resilience. Those strengths should not be underestimated.

Yet confidence can become a liability when it evolves into complacency.

The challenge facing Israel today is not simply defeating those who seek its destruction on the battlefield. It is confronting a global information environment in which perceptions increasingly shape political realities.

Ignoring that reality will not make it disappear.

Addressing it may be one of the most important national security challenges Israel faces in the years ahead.

The author is the CEO of Time to Stand Up for Israel.