The end of August is usually a slow news period but this year we have seen amazing headlines – Hurricane Irene, the rape charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn dropped, the impending end of the Qaddafi regime, the Republican nominee field tightening, and the stock market and U.S. economy seeing tremendous instability.
With a summer which has seen riots in London, terror in Oslo, Syria killing its own people and Apple’s Steve Jobs retire, Israel is a place where world media has paid comparatively little attention – thankfully. With minor exception, the usually biased media has essentially ignored Israel.
While terrorists are now attacking Southern Israel -and last night Tel Aviv - to little fanfare, in just a few weeks near and after the 10 year anniversary commemorations of 9/11, media will inevitably turn its intense Anti-Israel focus back just in time for the United Nations general assembly to meet and the onset of the sham of a peace conference known as Durban III.
This will come just in time to put a spotlight upon the Palestinian decision to cut off any moves toward peace with Israel and demand statehood from the United Nations body. Surely during that time period a large majority of countries shall likely endorse an independent Palestinian State and Israel is likely to suffer and become even more of a pariah state.
Having worked for the Likud Party I am well aware that Benjamin Netanyahu is a PR genius – yet Israel’s world-standing continues to suffer from terrible Public Relations. Once this news cycle ends, we will soon see Israel condemned in the media – we won’t hear about the barrage of rocket attacks upon Southern Israel, nor freedom for Gilad Shalit.
Israel has the unique opportunity now – with terrorists attacking daily - to take strong action against her enemies and foes – with much less backlash than they will face when the world media is “back to normal.” Israel can take advantage of the news cycle and now, on her own time table scoop the Palestinians with their decisions regarding the UN.
Undoubtedly Israel has a crisis PR plan in place for the U.N. debacle – why not make statements now – and take positive Public Relations actions rather than wait for the inevitable bashing soon to come.
Musician Pete Wentz said “Thank G-d Charlie Sheen exists,” as he got divorced from Ashlee Simpson while Sheen was carrying out his media circus allowing the Wentz & Simpson story to be minimized.
Timing matters and one must adapt to the news cycle – even countries like Israel can do this. Israel can, and should take advantage of the news cycle and do what they need to do – but often withhold due to world pressure.
Israel must handle the terrorists and the diplomatic nightmares now while the world is distracted.