Information War: Why Israel and the Jewish People Remain Defenseless Against Propaganda

In the modern world, public opinion manipulation and propaganda are no longer obvious. Today, they hide behind the masks of "news pages" that allegedly merely inform the audience.

Let's break down how the technologies of legalizing hate work, why legal frameworks fail, and why Israel has become the primary target on the information front. One clear example of how fakes are amplified in Kazakhstan's information space is through platforms like the Kazakh media outlet ALTN News.

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Legal Loopholes: How Fakes Become "News"

Take Article 274 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan—"Dissemination of knowingly false information"—as an example. On paper, this law (like its equivalents in other countries) is meant to protect society from fakes. In practice, however, vague wording allows pseudo-news resources to bypass prohibitions using a simple textual shield.

The disinformation scheme works like this:

• A fabricated claim demonizing Israel is published.
• The text is pumped with emotional triggers, sensational photos, and manipulative citations (e.g., "as a source reported").
• At the bottom, in small print, a saving disclaimer is added: “The editorial board bears no responsibility. The material is strictly for informational purposes.”.

And just like that, the legal defense is ready. Yet, in practice, it is precisely the editorial board that:

• Selects the topic and the clickbait headline.
• Packages and formats the publication.
• Promotes it through social media algorithms.
• Monetizes millions of views and collects donations.

As a result, we witness a paradox: the spread of hatred is formally disguised as "informing.".

Why is the State of Israel So Vulnerable in the Media Space?

Social media audiences are already emotionally overheated by years of anti-Israel propaganda. Any fake instantly and comfortably lands on the fertile ground of entrenched narratives:

• Israel is portrayed exclusively as an aggressor.
• Jews are designated as guilty a priori.
• Any attempt at self-defense is branded as "Zionist propaganda."

This is where a legal trap emerges. If Israel or Jewish organizations begin to systematically defend themselves, hire international lawyers, and mass-file defamation lawsuits, liberal media will immediately spin this as a "political case" and an "attack on freedom of speech." Consequently, instead of protecting their reputation, they will only face a new flood of accusations.

The Disclaimer: Not Just a Shield, But a Weapon of War

In today's reality, the disclaimer has become a full-fledged weapon of information warfare. It protects not only pseudo-news pages but also their financial interests.

Pro-Palestinian movements possess colossal resources and streamlined access to international networks of lawyers defending their information campaigns. The Israeli side does not have such inexhaustible resources to repel every single attack. Effectively countering these fabrications requires hiring attorneys across dozens of different jurisdictions, which once again turns into a financial and bureaucratic trap.

Who Will Defend the Jewish People Locally? The Illusion of Justice

Let's step down from the level of hypothetical international tribunals to the ground—for instance, to Kazakhstan, where platforms like ALTN News freely amplify antisemitic and anti-Israel narratives. A logical question arises: suppose the budgets are found. But how do you find a local lawyer willing to file a lawsuit for defamation or incitement to hatred?

The truth is that the classic commercial model of "hiring a lawyer for a good fee" no longer works in this information war. No amount of money can compensate for the risks a local specialist will face.

While lawyers in London or New York might fear losing corporate clients and facing boycotts, at the local level, it boils down to basic physical and psychological safety. No pragmatic lawyer will want to take on the case knowing the real consequences:

• Tomorrow, their personal data, addresses, and phone numbers will be leaked to radical groups.
• Their children will start receiving direct threats on social media.
• Their family will be methodically harassed and branded as "accomplices to genocide."

The personal cost of participating in such a process is simply too high. That is why random "outside" lawyers do not take on such cases; the fear for their loved ones will always outweigh any fee.

In today's reality, a lawyer ready to publicly defend Israel or the local Jewish community can only come from two categories:

• Either it is a Jew themselves, for whom defending their people is not a commercial transaction, but a matter of conscience, honor, and basic survival.
• Or it is an incredibly brave individual—a lawyer with ironclad principles, ready to stand alone against a furious, propaganda-fueled mob.

That is exactly why we can no longer rely on the standard legal system or hired professionals to protect us.

Is It Really All Hopeless?

Yes, the information landscape seems bleak, and the forces appear disastrously unequal. But it is precisely this crisis that has triggered a powerful awakening.

The illusions have shattered. We no longer expect international institutions, UN resolutions, or hired corporations to protect us. This clarity, oddly enough, has worked in our favor.

Today, frightened bureaucrats and bought media are being replaced by thousands of caring individuals. Networks of independent lawyers, OSINT investigators, journalists, and everyday users are spontaneously forming all over the world, methodically destroying the constructed propaganda, fact by fact.

The paradox is that lies require billion-dollar budgets, bot farms, and armies of PR specialists just to stay afloat. The truth, however, doesn't need special effects—it only needs the courage to be spoken out loud. And the number of people possessing this courage is growing every single day.

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