#PRfail: Israel fires image-ace Noa Tishby

As Israel’s already challenged standing on the international stage continued to take a beating, the government dismissed one of its public-relations stars, Israeli-born American actress turned author and diplomat Noa Tishby.

“It is with disappointment and sadness, but an enduring determination, that I can confirm that the current Israeli government has dismissed me as Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and the Delegitimization of Israel,” Tishby wrote in a letter posted to social media on Sunday.

“It is not possible for me to know if their decision was driven by my publicly stated concerns about this government’s ‘judicial reform policy.’ But given the reality that antisemitism continues its dangerous rise globally, and the threat to Israel’s existence through delegitimization policies has not slowed, it is difficult to come to any other reasonable conclusion,” she added.

She posted on Twitter a Hebrew letter written to her by the Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Director-General for Public Diplomacy Emmanuel Nahson in which he stated that “in light of existing circumstances the ministry has no intention of renewing the [contract].” Nahshon asked her to stop using her title, and Tishby put the words “former Special Envoy” on her Twitter page.

Tishby was appointed to the role — in which she was not paid and not a government employee — in April 2022 by then-Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

At the time of her appointment, Lapid’s Foreign Ministry described Tishby as “a leading voice in the United States and abroad” in fighting antisemitism and said her connections with “influential figures among Democrats and progressives” would help the Jewish state.

In her position, she highlighted links between antisemitism and anti-Zionism, appearing to focus more on left-wing criticism of Israel than on antisemitism coming from right-wing extremists.

She dismissed outrage after the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as an “antisemitic double standard” while criticizing Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid for “demonizing the Jewish state“ by posting about a 14-year-old Palestinian boy arrested by Israeli forces.

Last month, Tishby wrote in a Hebrew-language article in Ynet of the reform initiative, “I will say it in the sharpest and clearest way: Diaspora Jewry and Israel’s supporters in the world are shocked. They are shocked.

“With great pain they look and see how the country they fiercely defended — in Congress, in the media, on the networks or in front of foreign[ers] — is changing its face.” This is “not a reform, but a coup,” she added.

She followed that article with an appearance of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” where she criticized the judicial overhaul as jeopardizing Israel’s standing as a democracy.

“I have read some really disturbing things,” said Maher. “In the past, it was Israel against …their neighbors, who are not big fans of them. … Now it’s internal. Now Israel seems to be fighting with itself. … For people who are not following this, please tell us why the president of Israel said civil war is possible. He said, ‘The abyss is within touching distance.’ Why is this?”

Tishby downplayed President Isaac Herzog’s comments, saying that they were “slightly dramatic.”

“What’s happening in Israel right now, what we’re seeing is literally democracy on full display. It’s actually quite extraordinary. So, let’s backtrack for a little bit. So, a few months ago Benjamin Netanyahu … won the election and because of how the parliamentary system is built in Israel, he started this coalition, which is on the extreme side, it’s right-wing, more religious—” “Very right-wing,” Maher interjected.

“As it happens in the US, when new governments come in, they jump in to make sweeping changes quite quickly, and that’s what this government decided to do,” Tishby continued. “They suggested a judiciary overhaul, which is going too far, and the Israeli people are basically rebelling against it.”

“Let me ask you this,” said Maher. “I’ve heard … that [Netanyahu] wants to somehow make it so that the [Knesset] can basically [overrule the Israeli high court]. It would be like if our Congress with a majority of one could overrule our Supreme Court. But, I don’t know, tell me: Is your, the Israeli system, the same as ours, with three forms of government [and] checks and balances between three equal forms of government?”

“Not entirely, and also the biggest problem within the Israeli system is that there’s no constitution; so right now, what we’re seeing is a conflict between the government and the Supreme Court,” Tishby replied. “The government wants to take too much power basically and overrule the Supreme Court decision by a simple majority, but the Israeli people are rebelling against this. This is quite amazing what’s happening.”

Maher said that since Israel is constantly at war, “I’m not against someone who is a little bit more conservative being at the helm, but [Netanyahu] seems to be losing even his supporters.”

 “Over 60 percent of the Israeli public wants to stop this overhaul,” Tishby noted. “54 percent of Likud voters didn’t know that this would be the first line of item [sic] for this new government and I do believe that it’s going to stop. It’s not going to pass in its current form, it shouldn’t pass in its current form, and what we are seeing … nearly 10 percent of the Israeli population is out on the street and they are no riots, there’s no violence, there’s no blood, one person got hurt but that’s about it. So it’s an extraordinarily creative demonstration. The Israeli people are speaking up, they don’t want this.”

On the program’s panel with Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a former presidential candidate, and Andrew Yang, Maher asked Tishby,“How can people distinguish between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism?”

“Anti-Zionism is antisemitism, first of all,” Tishby said, receiving cheers from the audience. “I’ll tell you what the difference is. There’s nothing wrong with criticizing [the] Israeli government, I just did that on the show. ... There’s nothing wrong with criticizing [the] Israeli government’s policies, politicians, that West Bank … if you have something against.

“If you’re trying to dismantle the Jewish state, if you’re trying to go against the existence of the State of Israel, that’s where the line is drawn, and sadly … there are a lot of people that are saying that Israel is not a legitimate country, and that is unacceptable.”

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This is the letter Noa Tishby posted on social media on Sunday:

Dear Friends,

It is with disappointment and sadness, but an enduring determination, that I can confirm that the current Israeli government has dismissed me as Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and the Delegitimization of Israel.

It is not possible for me to know if their decision was driven by my publicly stated concerns about this government’s “judicial reform policy.” But given the reality that antisemitism continues its dangerous rise globally, and the threat to Israel’s existence through delegitimization policies has not slowed, it is difficult to come to any other reasonable conclusion.

When I accepted the Special Envoy position from former Foreign Minister Lapid, I did so because the threat to Jews around the world is as significant today as any other point since the Holocaust, and the risks to Israel are as great today as they have been since our nation’s birth. As an advocate for justice and equality, I felt an obligation to stand with the many others united in the fight against hate.

That does not mean I must suppress my views and my decision to speak out was not taken lightly. I voiced concerns because I believe absolutely in the importance of an independent judiciary in safeguarding the democratic system.

Open and honest debate with those in government is at the core of Israel’s long-term well-being and our status as the region’s single consistent democracy. True patriotism involves standing up for the values and principles that form the foundation of our nation, even when it means questioning or opposing policies implemented by this or any government.

I am disappointed by their decision but remain steadfast in my commitment to fighting antisemitism and the delegitimization of Israel on the global stage. It has been an honor to work with incredible partners and organizations dedicated to promoting understanding, tolerance, and respect for Israel and the Jewish people. As an advocate, an artist—and most importantly as an American-Israeli citizen and a Jew—my work will continue in our joint effort to create a brighter future for Israel and the Jewish people.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Noa Tishby