The Big Lie: Information Warfare in the Israel to Gaza War with Joel Fishman

Description

In this episode of the Middle East Forum podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Dr. Joel Fishman, historian and fellow of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, about information warfare in the Israel-Gaza war and the propaganda campaign aimed at delegitimizing Israel.

Fishman argues that the post-October 7 information battlefield has been shaped by a series of “big lies” designed to deny Israel’s legitimacy, sovereignty, and right of self-defense. He traces how anti-Israel narratives spread through demonstrations, media coverage, academia, and international institutions, and why those narratives can have consequences far beyond public opinion.

The conversation examines the historical roots of political propaganda, the use of delegitimization as a strategic weapon, and the connection between incitement and violence. Fishman also discusses the role of education, intellectual leadership, and moral clarity in countering falsehoods that gain power through repetition.

Regan and Fishman explore what Israel, Jewish communities, scholars, and civil society leaders can do to confront the cognitive war against Israel, and why the fight for truth must be sustained over the long term.

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