HasbaraHasbaraA Personal StoryA Personal Story

Presented by:Presented by:

Jeremy DeryJeremy Dery

Overview Overview

The Road to Academic Public DiplomacyThe Road to Academic Public Diplomacy Drew University’s Study Abroad Program 2008Drew University’s Study Abroad Program 2008 Unforeseen ChallengesUnforeseen Challenges Rallying SupportRallying Support Confronting University AdministrationConfronting University Administration Positive OutcomesPositive Outcomes

Building a Career in Government DiplomacyBuilding a Career in Government Diplomacy

Study Abroad- Spring 2008Study Abroad- Spring 2008

Birthright ExperienceBirthright Experience Sophomore at Drew UniversitySophomore at Drew University Applied to study abroad at Tel Aviv UniversityApplied to study abroad at Tel Aviv University Classes applied to major and minorClasses applied to major and minor

Middle East PoliticsMiddle East Politics Hebrew/ ArabicHebrew/ Arabic

Drew’s Refusal

2008 Petitioned and applied to study abroad program 2008 Petitioned and applied to study abroad program offered on Drew’s websiteoffered on Drew’s website

Accepted at Tel Aviv U for spring 2009Accepted at Tel Aviv U for spring 2009 Early October- head of study abroad says “NO” because of Early October- head of study abroad says “NO” because of

US State Dept travel warning listUS State Dept travel warning list Double Standard; Egypt, Lebanon- on study abroad listDouble Standard; Egypt, Lebanon- on study abroad list Administration feared “liability issues” due to terrorist Administration feared “liability issues” due to terrorist

threats in Israelthreats in Israel If I persisted in going - No academic credit or financial aid If I persisted in going - No academic credit or financial aid

supportsupport No waiver formNo waiver form

Immediate Impact of Immediate Impact of Drew’s DecisionDrew’s Decision

No opportunities to visit a country with tons of No opportunities to visit a country with tons of educational benefitseducational benefits

Middle East Politics’ and Jewish Studies’ students Middle East Politics’ and Jewish Studies’ students could only study abroad in Arab countriescould only study abroad in Arab countries

Narrow minded University Administration – out of Narrow minded University Administration – out of touch with reality and hint of “anti-semitism”touch with reality and hint of “anti-semitism”

Used terrorist threats to guide University decision, Used terrorist threats to guide University decision, but only towards studying in Israel and not Middle but only towards studying in Israel and not Middle East in generalEast in general

Allies +SupportersAllies +Supporters

President of Hillel President of Hillel Supportive student- petitionSupportive student- petition Local and State Media Local and State Media Seminar at David Project- OrgsSeminar at David Project- Orgs Israeli ConsulateIsraeli Consulate Local and Federal Jewish AgenciesLocal and Federal Jewish Agencies

Advisor- Prof. TaylorAdvisor- Prof. Taylor

Strong, Coordinated ResponseStrong, Coordinated Response

Spoke directly to President and Dean of Spoke directly to President and Dean of UniversityUniversity

Acorn- University NewspaperAcorn- University Newspaper Star Ledger, Jewish News, Jerusalem PostStar Ledger, Jewish News, Jerusalem Post Israeli Consulate- Methodist Church divest Israeli Consulate- Methodist Church divest

IsraelIsrael Emails- Jewish Organizations and parents Emails- Jewish Organizations and parents Governor of NJGovernor of NJ

Unforeseen Challenges toUnforeseen Challenges toDrew AdministrationDrew Administration

Potential Student BoycottPotential Student Boycott Jewish families threaten to stop Jewish families threaten to stop

University contributionsUniversity contributions International negative media awarenessInternational negative media awareness Blacklisted on anti- Zionist blogsBlacklisted on anti- Zionist blogs Backlash of Jewish organizations support Backlash of Jewish organizations support Possible reduction of incoming studentsPossible reduction of incoming students

Positive OutcomePositive Outcome

Changed Study Abroad PolicyChanged Study Abroad Policy Waiver form- anybody can study in IsraelWaiver form- anybody can study in Israel

Raised Campus and Community awareness of Raised Campus and Community awareness of study abroad issues dealing with Israelstudy abroad issues dealing with Israel

Amazing semester at Tel Aviv University!!!!Amazing semester at Tel Aviv University!!!! Re-affirmed conviction to continueRe-affirmed conviction to continue

to advocate on behalf of Israelto advocate on behalf of Israel Continued onto Graduate studiesContinued onto Graduate studies

at TAUat TAU

Operation: Magic CarpetOperation: Magic CarpetDrew University after the conflictDrew University after the conflict

Promote study, travel, and Promote study, travel, and internships in Israelinternships in Israel

Coordinated major Jewish on-Coordinated major Jewish on-campus eventcampus event

Representatives from 20 Jewish Representatives from 20 Jewish organizationsorganizations

Featured Israel “beyond the Featured Israel “beyond the conflict”…. food, music, dancing, conflict”…. food, music, dancing, and comedyand comedy

More Problems on CampusesMore Problems on Campuses

DivestmentDivestment Anti-Israel SpeakersAnti-Israel Speakers Professors with bias viewsProfessors with bias views Students with bias viewsStudents with bias views Rallies on campusRallies on campus Books with wrong infoBooks with wrong info

Ongoing Personal AdvocacyOngoing Personal Advocacy

Facebook page - Peace for Israel: Facebook page - Peace for Israel: Stand Against TerrorStand Against Terror Daily updatesDaily updates 2373 members2373 members Started during Cast LeadStarted during Cast Lead

Forgotten RefugeesForgotten Refugees Presentation on the Jews from Presentation on the Jews from

the Arab worldthe Arab world DAVID ProjectDAVID Project

Pro Israel group in AmericaPro Israel group in America

Petition and RalliesPetition and Rallies

Online Petitions or surveysOnline Petitions or surveys Israelpetitions.comIsraelpetitions.com www.gopetition.com/petition-

campaigns/Israel/ Examples- Kassams/ Examples- Kassams/

releasing soldiersreleasing soldiers Political rallies showing Political rallies showing

support to Israelsupport to Israel

Ongoing Public DiplomacyOngoing Public Diplomacy

Drew and BeyondDrew and Beyond Government InternshipsGovernment Internships ActivismActivism Journalism Journalism Graduate School TAUGraduate School TAU

Internships:Internships:Deputy Minister Ayoob KaraDeputy Minister Ayoob Kara

Connections with Connections with Evangelical groups/Pro- Evangelical groups/Pro- Israel/Congressmen Israel/Congressmen

Assisted writing/translating Assisted writing/translating documents into English documents into English fromTurkey during first fromTurkey during first Flotilla crisisFlotilla crisis

Attended Knesset sessionsAttended Knesset sessions

GLORIA CenterGLORIA Center

Assisted Jonathan Spyer gather articles for his websiteAssisted Jonathan Spyer gather articles for his website Coordinated largest and highest-level group of Chinese Coordinated largest and highest-level group of Chinese

scholars and business experts- symposium at IDCscholars and business experts- symposium at IDC Met with Israeli experts- Moshe Yaalon, Eitan Ben-Met with Israeli experts- Moshe Yaalon, Eitan Ben-

Eliezer, Shabtai ShavitEliezer, Shabtai Shavit Part of situation room in Hertzliya during 2Part of situation room in Hertzliya during 2ndnd Flotilla Flotilla GLORIA Center contact with Ministry of Defense- GLORIA Center contact with Ministry of Defense-

receiving live updates receiving live updates Contact with French pro-Israel groups-send them Contact with French pro-Israel groups-send them

accurate/timely infoaccurate/timely info Prepare Gregg Roman’s presentation on Al-JazeeraPrepare Gregg Roman’s presentation on Al-Jazeera

Hadar IsraelHadar Israel

Pro-Israel org based in JerusalemPro-Israel org based in Jerusalem Teach Anglo Olims how to promote Teach Anglo Olims how to promote

IsraelIsrael Hebrew University eventHebrew University event Yigal Palmor, Michael Dickson, Jason Yigal Palmor, Michael Dickson, Jason

Edelstein-guest speakersEdelstein-guest speakers Anti Apartheid info – videos of Arab Anti Apartheid info – videos of Arab

Israeli’s support Israel, info Israel factsIsraeli’s support Israel, info Israel facts Don’t Stay Silent: Tell Truth Israel Don’t Stay Silent: Tell Truth Israel

2011-20122011-2012

TAU Graduate StudentTAU Graduate Student Masters Program, Conflict ResolutionMasters Program, Conflict Resolution Anticipated graduation August 2012Anticipated graduation August 2012

Tel Aviv Salon participantTel Aviv Salon participant Board member of Connect IsraelBoard member of Connect Israel Work with Philippe KarsentyWork with Philippe Karsenty

Al-Dura HoaxAl-Dura Hoax GLORIA Center- BrandingGLORIA Center- Branding

Ways to Promote IsraelWays to Promote Israel

Social Networks-Twitter, FacebookSocial Networks-Twitter, Facebook Up to date on newsUp to date on news Write articles/blogsWrite articles/blogs Israel Achievement EventsIsrael Achievement Events Israel Diversity ProgramsIsrael Diversity Programs International Speaker EventsInternational Speaker Events

Pro IsraelPro Israel

IT TAKES ONLY ONE BRAVE SOUL TO IT TAKES ONLY ONE BRAVE SOUL TO CREATE CHANGECREATE CHANGE