Selling Israel: Zionism, Propaganda, and the Uses of Hasbara

An urgent and necessary deep dive into how Israel's masterful use of propaganda has shaped global perceptions, justified Israel's policies, and masked its violations of human rights and international law.

Selling Israel: Zionism, Propaganda, and the Uses of Hasbara is a revelatory examination of how Israel has skillfully employed propaganda to shape global perceptions, justify its policies, and maintain Western support despite its ongoing violations of international law and human rights.

From its late 19th—century origins, Zionism sought to unite a fractured Jewish population under a nationalist vision. But achieving this goal required more than political maneuvering—it demanded a compelling narrative. Whether persuading world powers to endorse the state’s creation, rallying Jews to fund and populate the new nation, or branding Israel as a beacon of democracy while suppressing Palestinian resistance, the Zionist project has always depended on carefully crafted messaging.

Author Harriet Malinowitz, a retired professor of English specializing in writing, rhetoric, Palestine studies, and gender and sexuality studies, brings a sharp analytical lens to Israel’s powerful public relations apparatus. A longtime advocate for Palestinian rights and a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, Malinowitz draws from her extensive research and activism to uncover the methods of hasbara—Israel’s vast propaganda network spanning government ministries, NGOs, media outlets, and academic institutions. She explores the use of "nation branding", "soft power", "greenwashing", "pinkwashing", and digital influence to maintain a global image of Israel as a besieged democracy rather than a colonial occupier.

With a rich background in critical discourse analysis and a history of publishing in outlets such as Mondoweiss, Slate, and The Women’s Review of Books, Malinowitz offers a meticulously researched, incisive critique of how Zionism has transformed deception into doctrine.

Selling Israel is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the deep—rooted propaganda strategies behind one of the world’s most contested conflicts.