Twitterers Paid to Spread “Israeli” Propaganda Internet Warfare Team Unveiled

"Israel's" foreign ministry is reported to be establishing a special undercover team of paid workers whose job it will be to surf the internet 24 hours a day spreading positive news about "Israel".

Internet-savvy "Israeli" youngsters, mainly recent graduates and demobilized soldiers with language skills, are being recruited to pose as ordinary surfers while they provide the government's line on the Middle East conflict.

"To all intents and purposes the internet is a theatre in the "Israeli"-Palestinian conflict, and we must be active in that theatre, otherwise we will lose," said Ilan Shturman, who is responsible for the project.

The existence of an "internet warfare team" came to light when it was included in this year's foreign ministry budget. About $150,000 has been set aside for the first stage of development, with increased funding expected next year.

The team will fall under the authority of a large department already dealing with what Israelis term "hasbara", officially translated as "public explanation" but more usually meaning propaganda.

That includes not only government public relations work but more secretive dealings the ministry has with a battery of private organizations and initiatives that promote "Israel's" image in print, on TV and online.