IsraelPolitik is an official blog of the Consulate General of Israel in New York, and the second blog to be administered by the Israeli Consulate’s media and public affairs team. [1] It was initiated by David Saranga, Consul for Media and Public Affairs, following the launch of isRealli, which was the first official blog to ever be created by a government. [1] IsraelPolitik covers political news in Israel by posting up-to-date news clips, official briefs, and exclusive articles and interviews. [2] The site was launched on May 18, 2007 and is maintained on a frequent basis. [3]
IsraelPolitik is one of the tools Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Consulate in New York are using in order to reach new audiences. [1] In an interview with the New York Times during the war in Gaza in January 2009, Consul David Saranga at the Israeli Consulate in New York was quoted saying: “Since the definition of war has changed, the definition of public diplomacy has to change as well.” [4]
The blog garnered a slew of high-profile media attention and coverage during the war in Gaza from December 2008 to January 2009, when the Israeli Consulate in New York conducted the first-ever citizen press conference on Twitter, and posted the transcript on IsraelPolitik. [5] [6] The Twitter press conference, initiated by Consul David Saranga, [7] was designed to answer people’s questions about Operation Cast Lead in a series of brief “tweets”, as part of a new media effort to reach tech-savvy audiences. [8] [9] [10]
IsraelPolitik categories include: Citizen Press Conference, Conflict, International, Interviews, Media, Middle East, Operation Cast Lead, Peace, Politics, and Terrorism.[ citation needed]
IsraelPolitik attracts users from more than 85 countries from across the globe, including Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, France, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, and many more.[ citation needed]