Israel's US influence campaign

In July 2026 Israel allocated about $730 million for a public‑diplomacy push aimed at shaping American opinion on Israeli and regional issues. The effort hired U.S. firms such as Sparkfire and Targeted Communications Global to run the “Freedom Not Terror” campaign across major social platforms, generating hundreds of millions of views and placing ads on conservative outlets.

Later that month Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Washington at President Donald Trump’s invitation. The White House meeting was the first face‑to‑face encounter between the two leaders since February. Netanyahu also attended the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Israel ally. Trump publicly defended Netanyahu against a possible International Criminal Court arrest and again reiterated U.S. support for Israel. The itinerary also included a scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscoring U.S. diplomatic activity across multiple conflicts.

The visit was framed as part of ongoing strategic consultations on Iran’s nuclear program, the Gaza cease‑fire, and broader regional security ahead of Israeli elections. Earlier tensions, including a strained phone call in which Trump called Netanyahu “crazy,” and recent Israeli‑Lebanese clashes, were noted, but the Washington trip highlighted continued U.S.–Israel coordination despite those frictions.