IDF Spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich, who heads the IDF’s Foreign Press Branch, attended the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations 2012 Annual Leadership Mission in Jerusalem.
Leibovich explained to the participants about her unit’s goals in explaining Israel and the IDF to the world, but also had a message to American Jews.
“I don’t like the sense of defeat that sometimes comes out of these kinds of discussions,” Leibovich told Arutz Sheva. “I believe that we can make a change. I believe that we can influence the foreign media and show the real Israel, the real face of the IDF soldier.”
She added that this is possible with the help of Jewish organizations all over the world, and called on people around the world to carefully examine reports of certain NGOs which make false claims about the IDF.
One such example, said Leibovich, is an organization called DCI which popped up out of nowhere two years ago and regularly produces reports which claim that IDF soldiers molest children in Judea and Samaria.
“Of course this is not true and doesn’t happen, but nevertheless we do have to inquire and see who is behind these human rights groups,” she said.