Idan Ronen
entrepreneur, lecturer, Middle East researcher and Pro-Israel media activist
Israel
English, Hebrew
Served as a tank crewman in the IDF and has traveled to over 40 countries, even temporarily residing in some, Idan began his career in Israeli media, where he experienced firsthand the journalists' corruption and self-hating sentiment. Since then, he has continued to investigate the darker side of individual journalists and the media, examining the media-establishment complex's intricate relationship.
Since 2019, Idan has been actively advocating for Israel on foreign media, including on virulent Arab media, where he faced relentless confrontations with antagonistic and anti-Semitic Arab hosts. Simultaneously, he holds Israel's Foreign Ministry primarily accountable for Israel's significant PR failures, citing their responses to his inquiries — answers that left him utterly astonished.
Is Israel Doomed to Lose the Battle of Public Relations?
After years of extensive involvement in public relations and hundreds of appearances in foreign media, I delve deeply into the real reason why Israeli public relations constantly finds itself at a disadvantage. Many of us, rightly so, criticize Israel's ineffective outreach efforts and demand solutions to this ongoing failure.
In this lecture, I will comprehensively review why effective public diplomacy is a force multiplier for Israel’s foreign and security policies and why it must not be underestimated. What exactly is “effective public relations”? Does the media wield real power, and how much? Can the average citizen in London, Paris, or San Francisco truly be influenced by media coverage?
I will pinpoint the parties responsible for Israel’s public relations shortcomings and propose solutions and strategies to address the issue—both at the governmental level and on the level of the individual citizen.
This is a must-attend lecture for anyone who cares about the success of Israel’s public diplomacy efforts.
Operation Iron Swords – The Battle of Consciousness and Public Relations
Drawing from my extensive experience in foreign media, particularly in Arab outlets such as Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, the BBC, and others, I will provide an in-depth analysis of the critical importance of successful Israeli public relations in Arab media targeting the Arab world. This form of outreach does not necessarily focus on persuasion but rather takes a unique approach.
The Arab media, often likened to a wrestling arena, represents a distinctive battlefield unlike other international media outlets. Consequently, the strategies for public relations in this space are equally unique. In this arena, projecting strength is paramount.
In this lecture, I will showcase snippets of my fiery confrontations with hostile hosts and commentators, demonstrating how I work to present Israel's truth and set the record straight. Additionally, I will provide an overview of the challenges, issues, and potential solutions to reshaping Israel's image in the Arab world.
The Palestinians and the Arab World: An Untold Perspective
As an influencer on X (formerly Twitter) with 7,000 followers—90% of whom are Arabs—I offer a unique perspective on how many in the Arab world truly view the Palestinians.
While Arab media persistently avoids discussing the Palestinian society’s perceived ingratitude and hostility toward Arab supporters of their cause, the archives do not forget. The Arab online space is brimming with posts, tweets, and videos—shared by both Palestinians and other Arabs—revealing mutual insults and conflicts that expose deeper fractures.
In this lecture, I will delve into the dynamics of the Arab digital sphere and bring to light what no Arab leader dares to discuss so openly. This is a rare opportunity to explore a side of the Palestinian-Arab relationship that is often left in the shadows.