Israeli Communications Official Admits Fabricating Fake News

Israeli communications official Eli Hazan has sparked controversy after a video circulated widely on social media in which he appears to acknowledge fabricating false news and says that truth and facts no longer matter.

In the video, which has reportedly received more than one million views on X, Hazan says: “The truth doesn’t matter anymore. The facts don’t matter anymore.” He then says he fabricates fake news in response to Israel’s opponents and argues that Israel should adopt a communications strategy similar to that associated with US President Donald Trump.

Hazan describes social media as a battlefield and presents the struggle over information as an online war in which factual accuracy is secondary. His comments have drawn attention amid Israel’s expanding public diplomacy and media campaigns, commonly referred to as “hasbara”.

Hazan is a longtime Likud communications figure who has worked as a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Singapore. Israeli media have also reported that Netanyahu sought to appoint him to lead the Government Press Office.

The remarks come as Israel has significantly increased spending on international public diplomacy and digital campaigns. These efforts reportedly include social media influencers, advocacy groups, foreign delegations and campaigns aimed at shaping online information and public opinion.