Morton Klein Blasts Israeli Officials Over “Failed PR Strategy” at Israel Hayom Summit

MANHATTAN — Zionist Organization of America President Morton Klein delivered a sharp critique of Israeli leadership on Tuesday at the Israel Hayom Summit, warning that officials are failing to confront the global “demonization” of Israel.

Klein said he regularly speaks with Israeli officials who insist it is “not important to demonize the demons,” but he argued they fundamentally misunderstand the severity of the public-relations battle. “It seems they don’t get it,” he said, stressing that Israel’s reluctance to challenge hostile narratives has allowed misinformation to spread unchecked.

Klein’s criticism carries weight. For decades he has been regarded as one of the most influential pro-Israel activists in the United States, known for shaping public debates in Washington and mobilizing grassroots support for Israel. His willingness to publicly rebuke Israeli leadership underscores the growing concern within the pro-Israel community about the country’s messaging failures.

Klein urged officials to confront falsehoods directly and communicate the truth with far greater urgency, warning that Israel risks losing the global narrative if it does not act decisively.

His remarks echoed a recurring theme at the summit: that Israel’s messaging apparatus is lagging at a time when public perception is shaping global attitudes toward the Jewish state more than ever.