The IDF’s Civil Administration earlier in the month hosted a three-day camp for PA (Palestinian Authority) children who are suffering from cancer. The camp included playing in a park, visits to appropriate areas and the necessary medical care and conditions to accommodate the children with their realties pertaining to their illness.

Ironically, the event was not heavily publicized by the IDF or Israel, highlighting the sorely lacking awareness for positive public relations that is a chronic Israeli problem, which is particularly poignant in the Office of the IDF Spokesman. The latter usually releases canned benign responses or responses that are simply lagging, signaling that branch of the military has yet to address today’s instant news realities and the need to respond as events occur, not a day or two later.

Too often, the IDF response is a defensive one, usually responding to negative media reports already filed on a particular incident or a Youtube is posted days after an event grabs the international media spotlight.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)