Israel and the Islamophobic Campaign to Salvage Its Image in the West
Josh Paul
Analysts say Israel is ramping up Islamophobic messaging to counter its tarnished image in the West, building on alliances with far-right parties. Despite tactics like targeted ads and fear-based studies, critics argue the campaign is unlikely to reverse shifting public opinion.
As its international standing erodes, particularly following events in Gaza, the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly shifting toward a media campaign that stokes fear of Islam to rally support from right-wing circles in the United States and Europe.
An analytical piece on Al Jazeera recounts the author's experience working with an aide to a Republican congressman in the U.S. Congress. When asked about the lawmaker's involvement in a group lobbying against so-called Sharia law, the aide bluntly said: 'Don't worry about that, Muslims are low-hanging fruit. The real issues are Indians, people of color, and even Jews. That doesn't stop us from putting America first.'
The wave of Islamophobia in the United States is described as increasingly overt and aggressive. The Muslim community now recalls the era of President George W. Bush, who visited a mosque after the 9/11 attacks and declared 'Islam is a religion of peace.' Those conciliatory efforts have virtually disappeared from the current Republican Party, replaced by blatant discrimination, leading to a rise in attacks against Muslims, such as the May shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that left three dead.
According to the article, part of the cause stems from the divisive politics championed by Trump since 2015, targeting immigrants and minority groups. However, the author points to a more deliberate driver: the Israeli government.
In January 2026, Israel hosted a conference against anti-Semitism in Jerusalem, attended by leaders of European far-right parties such as PiS (Poland), Vox (Spain), Fidesz (Hungary), and Rassemblement National (France). Netanyahu called the far-right allies in the fight against what he termed the 'invasion of radical Islam.' He has also warned that 'the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain,' and used campaign posters with the message 'Don't let them win,' featuring images of Hezbollah's leader, Iran, Turkish President Erdogan, and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The campaign is not limited to rhetoric. Israel is accused of hiring U.S. communications firms to send automated messages praising U.S.-Israel relations, while leaking a study suggesting the most effective tactic is to instill fear of 'radical Islam' and 'jihad.' In Canada, a government-funded campaign called United Citizens for Canada spread claims that Muslim immigrants threaten society and seek to impose Islamic law.
However, not everyone is convinced. Muslim candidates like Abdul El-Sayed have won primary elections, showing community resistance to such discriminatory discourse. The article concludes: 'Fear and hatred are powerful tools, and the current Islamophobic campaign could cause deeper damage. But even its primary goal – preventing the collapse of support in the West – is unlikely to succeed. Americans and Europeans should view this as a desperate foreign interference campaign by a state running out of options.'
