In 2026, Israel significantly increased its allocated budget for Hasbara—its state-funded public diplomacy and strategic communications apparatus. This development has drawn growing attention from analysts, journalists, and civil society groups seeking to better understand the role of state messaging in shaping international narratives.
This live webinar brings together a panel of subject-matter specialists to provide a comprehensive and critical examination of Hasbara, including:
- A clear explanation of what Hasbara is and how it functions within official communication strategies
- A historical overview of Israeli state messaging and its evolution over time
- An analysis of the implications of expanded funding amid ongoing conflict and heightened regional tensions
- A discussion on how narratives are constructed, disseminated, and challenged in the global information landscape
The session will also create space for informed discussion on the broader impact of state-sponsored communication strategies and explore avenues for critical engagement.
The webinar's recording will be uploaded soon
Featured Speaker
Tariq Kenney-Shawa is Al-Shabaka’s US Policy Fellow and co-host of Al-Shabaka’s Policy Lab series. He holds a Masters degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. Tariq’s research and writing have covered a range of topics, from the role of open-source intelligence in exposing Israel’s war crimes to analysis of Palestinian liberation tactics. His writing has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among others. Follow Tariq on Twitter @tksshawa and visit his website at https://www.tkshawa.com/ for more of his writing and photography.
Al-Shabaka Policy Member Nadim Nashif is the executive director and co-founder of 7amleh: The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media. Nadim is a committed Digital Rights Defender and long time community organizer, who has worked on youth and community development issues for over 20 years. Nadim founded and previously served as director of Baladna, The Association for Arab Youth. He founded and coordinated the youth wing of the Balad political party before becoming Director at the Committee for Educational Guidance for Arab students. He is also the co-founder of Wusol Digital Academy, a digital marketing educational center.
Online Webinar
