Israel is reportedly undertaking a robust influence campaign in the United States, utilizing artificial intelligence and payments to conservative media outlets, aimed at shifting American public opinion regarding its actions in Gaza and the war with Iran. This comes as US support for Israel has significantly declined, with a Pew Research Center poll indicating a drop in favorable views to 37% and a rise in unfavorable views to 60%. The Israeli government has reportedly allocated $730 million to its public diplomacy directorate, a substantial increase from $150 million the previous year, to counter its worsening global image.
Key to this campaign is a multi-million-dollar contract between Israel and Clock Tower X, a consultancy led by former Trump campaign adviser Brad Parscale. The initial agreement, signed in August 2025, involved a $1.5 million monthly payment, later evolving into a $6 million lump sum with an additional $3 million advertising budget. Clock Tower X's contract, as filed with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, mandates the use of these funds to deploy websites and content designed to influence generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, as well as monthly search engine optimization campaigns. The goal is to achieve "sentiment movement" among target audiences, with a minimum expectation of 50 million digital impressions per month.
Parscale's operation involves establishing a network of at least 11 front websites that, while appearing independent, disclose their management by Clock Tower X on behalf of the State of Israel. These sites, publishing hundreds of articles, aim to present favorable information about Israel and the war in Iran. The campaign also leverages Parscale's role as an executive at Salem Media Network to integrate messaging into its properties and aligned distribution channels. Despite these efforts, external reviews indicate limited success in manipulating AI chatbots, as services like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude did not cite content from Clock Tower X's network when prompted. Concerns have also been raised by US Vice President JD Vance, who accused elements within the Israeli government of conducting a "foreign influence campaign" to derail US diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran.
