Many admire Benjamin Netanyahu for the clarity and persuasiveness with which he has defended Israel, particularly during and after Operation Protective Edge. Noga Arbell, however, argues that at the UN he made a mistake common to most of Israel’s efforts at public diplomacy (hasbara): by defending Israel against the outrageous claims of its enemies, he brought more attention to those claims, placed his country on the defensive, and compromised its dignity. Arbell writes:
Our real problem is our desire to be loved. By arguing that Israel is a small country surrounded by enemies and in need of allies, we neglect the fact that they need us no less than we need them. Just to show how desperate we are to be liked, as opposed to any other country on earth, we see the virulent criticism against our country as something positive to be listened to and absorbed. As though there is truly “constructive criticism” in the messy and Machiavellian world of international politics.
Read more on Mida: http://mida.org.il/2014/10/13/sovereign-states-dont-hasbara/