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Buffing the image

Under the headline "Israeli FM: “Israel launching multi-million dollar campaign to improve its image” the International Middle East Media Center reports:

"Israeli Ynet News reported Wednesday that the Israeli Forging Minister, Tzipi Lvni, stated that Israel is investing in a multi-million dollar campaign to improve its image in the world after its latest war on Gaza.

Livni stated that the Foreign Ministry is holding talks with the Ministry of Finance for a grant of additional funds for its campaign which will focus mainly on Europe and the United States.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry recently received confidential letters from a number of its embassies informing the Israeli leaders that Israel is about to be considered by some European countries as a racist state, similar to the former South African apartheid regime.

Different Israeli embassies warned its leaders that Operation "Cast Lead" against the Gaza Strip, along with international reports on ongoing settlement construction and expansion, is showing Israel as a state that is not seeking peace.

The cost of this campaign is estimated as eight million Israeli shekels; It focuses on media and information. One of its main activities will be bringing delegates to Israel in order to “show them that Israel is a multi-ethnic state”.

The delegates would include media personnel and authors. Another part of the plan is sending Israel's best debaters and speakers to different parts of the world.

Noam Katz, head of the media department at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said that the aim of the campaign is to “reflect a positive image about Israel”, and improve Israel's position and reputation."

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