Print

Mail

wiki links

Israel using mobile phones in Lebanon propaganda battle

Israel is directing a multimedia propaganda campaign at the people of southern Lebanon as it battles with Hezbollah.

Cellphone users are being bombarded with text messages and calls, and a local radio station has suddenly had reports broadcast from the Israeli government's point of view.

Early last Friday morning, the residents of Tyre were woken by a recorded message on their cellphone voicemails, warning all those living south of the Litani River to leave immediately or risk being killed. The message signed off with "the state of Israel."

Each day Israeli planes drop "propaganda bombs," which burst to send leaflets fluttering down on to streets and rooftops. Leaflets dropped on Sunday morning described the Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, as a coward who hid in a cave while the Lebanese people suffered.

"He has attacked Arab leaders and ignored the international community; is this what you want for Lebanon?" it asked.

An earlier leaflet depicted Nasrallah as a cobra rising up out of a jar. Sitting around him on a map of Lebanon were Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal, and Syrian President Bashar Assad, each playing a snake charmer's flute.

Meanwhile cellphone users receive messages that appear as news updates, attempting to discredit Nasrallah or the party he leads. Titled "News," a message sent early on Sunday reported that the Hezbollah leader had prepared a secure bunker for himself and other senior Hezbollah officials to flee to in Syria.

The Israeli forces have also been busy resurrecting the old Voice of Lebanon radio station, once operated by Israel's military ally -- the South Lebanon Army -- before it was defeated by Hezbollah in 2000. Previously funded by Israel, frequency 103.7 is once again broadcasting the Israeli line.
This story has been viewed 2304 times.