Israel Conducts Extensive Influence Campaign in US Using AI and Influencers to Improve Image

A comprehensive investigation by The Wall Street Journal reveals that the Israeli government has been running a large-scale influence operation in the United States aimed at improving its public image amid declining American support. Central to the campaign is Brad Parscale, former campaign manager for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, who signed a contract worth over $45 million with Israel, a sum significantly higher than previous contracts with other countries. Parscale presented his plan to Israeli officials in late 2024 and has been regularly updating the government on its progress.

A key element of the operation involved sending millions of AI-generated text messages to Americans under names like "Emma" or "Sarah," often from a group called Friends for Peace. These messages engaged recipients in conversations about Israel, Iran, and security issues, with human operators assisting AI to maintain interaction. The messaging was managed by Sparkfire, which received about $6.5 million by mid-May. The legitimacy of Friends for Peace as an organization remains unclear.

The campaign also included creating websites and publishing pro-Israel content designed to influence how AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude respond to questions about Israel. One such site, Allyvia.org, promotes the US-Israel alliance. Parscale stated the project’s goal was to identify American concerns about Israel, address them with tailored content, and relay findings to the Israeli government.

Beyond Parscale’s involvement, Israel hired at least six US-based firms and registered around 36 new marketing and lobbying agents as foreign representatives over the past year. A campaign by the group Show Faith by Works targeted four million evangelical Christians with location-based messaging linking Palestinians to extremist groups. Celebrities like Chris Pratt and NBA star Stephen Curry were considered as potential spokespeople, though Pratt was never approached and Curry did not respond. Efforts also targeted the US liberal camp, with influencer management led by Yoav Davis, operator of the Instagram account Jews_of_NY.

Parscale’s role as chief strategist for Salem Media, a major conservative US radio and podcast network, drew criticism. Israel’s contract included placing messages on Salem’s platforms, but both Salem and Parscale denied paying hosts to promote specific views, stating funds were used solely for advertising. The campaign unfolds amid a significant drop in US public support for Israel, with a March Pew survey showing about 60% of Americans hold a negative view of the country. Parscale dismissed claims that the operation aimed to influence US-Iran negotiations, emphasizing that combating disinformation from all sides is Israel’s existential challenge.