Israel Holds a Twitter News Conference

Government administrations continue to get more tech-savvy in their efforts to communicate with younger and more connected audiences.  Last Tuesday, David Saranga, the head of media relations for the Israeli consulate in New York, held a press conference… on Twitter. This move has been the source of some derision, as arguments are being made that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one that warrants a more in-depth and careful discussion than Twitter can afford. The obvious argument is that Twitter, with its limited offering of a maximum of 140 characters per Tweet, leaves a bit of room for misinterpretation.   But does this RSS style information dissemination simply force users to get straight to the point without any spin?

Some of Saranga’s thoughts in text-message vernacular can be seen below:

Question from peoplesworld: 40 years of military confrontation hasn’t brought security to Israel, why is this different?

Answer from israelconsulate: We hav 2 prtct R ctzens 2, only way fwd through neogtiations, & left Gaza in 05. y Hamas launch missiles not peace?

-

EhsanAhmad: you didn’t get my point that Hammas is an elected govt and if u keep attacking them they got right to attack you

israelconsulate: if hamas’s goal were 2 btr the lives of its cit. they wouldn’t target IL. they would invest in edu/hlth not in bombs

-

explore4corners: How many attacks have there been against IS in the last 6 months? How many casualties? The MSM doesn’t report that here.

israelconsulate: ovr 500 rockts Hit IL in the 6 mts of CF. per the last 72 hrs mre thn 300 hit IL. kiling 4 ppl & injuring hndrds

-

carrotderek: On what conditions would Israel consider a ceasefire?

israelconsulate: CF must ensure no more rockets on IL+ no arms smuggling. btw crossings for Human Aid r open and trucks are entering

-

backlotops: 1 side has to stop. Why continue what hasn’t worked (mass arial/grnd retaliation)? Arab Peace Initiative?

israelconsulate: we R pro nego. crntly tlks r held w the PA + tlks on the 2 state soln. we talk only w/ ppl who accept R rt 2 live.

-

shahidkamal: Your nation has been disgraced on Twitter. This inverted Nuremberg Trial will not rescue your image.

israelconsulate: the point of this was to hear what ppl say and to share our POV with fellow twitters.

[Via the NYTimes]