Utolsó frissítés: 2026.05.22. — Szerző: Anti-Propaganda News Blog
Olivér Hende, the Neokohn editor and journalist for a Hungarian Jewish and pro-Israel news and opinion website. „An analysis of his ”body of work” in the Hasbara (in Hebrew: Public relations, „explanation”, in a broader sense: Israeli public diplomacy and advocacy, clearly demonstrates, in the context of (at times, propaganda), that its activities are closely aligned with the objectives and methods of this communication strategy.
The goal of Hasbara is to promote the policies of the State of Israel, defending its policies and narrative, explaining and promoting it to the international public, especially during times of conflict, as well as countering criticism and strengthening the legitimacy of the Jewish state.
In this context, Olivér Hende’s writings focus on the following main areas:
1. Unconditional defense of Israel and advocacy of its narrative
The backbone of Olivér Hende’s work is Israel’s security policy, the unquestionable protection of its military and diplomatic measures. In his writings, he consistently advocates Israel's position, particularly in conflicts involving the Palestinians (e.g.,. the Gaza wars, (events in Jerusalem). One of the key elements of Hasbara is conflicts framing: the emphasis is often placed on the historical rights of the Jewish people, Israel emphasizes its right to self-defense and the security threats it faces, while the Palestinian narrative (occupation, settlement policy, (humanitarian crisis) often overshadows, downplays or undermines.
2. The delegitimization of critical voices and organizations
Discrediting critics is an important tool of Hasbara. In his writings, Olivér Hende regularly attacks international organizations (e.g.,. UN, Amnesty International, (Human Rights Watch), the EU, the left-wing/liberal media and politics, that criticize Israel's policies. He often uses that strategy, to equate criticism of Israel (or anti-Zionism) with anti-Semitism. In doing so, he seeks to discredit his critics morally, and to undermine any professional or legal discourse regarding Israel’s responsibility. He often dismisses such criticism as „liberal double standards” or „anti-Israel bias.”.
3. „Shared Values” and Strengthening Hungarian-Israeli Relations
Olivér Hende, like Neokohn, often emphasizes the close ties between Hungary and Israel, in particular, the ideological and political alliance between the Orbán and Netanyahu governments. The „Judeo-Christian value system” frequently appears in his writings, the common thread linking „national sovereignty” and „anti-immigration sentiment.”. In doing so, Hasbara is following its strategy, which is also implemented at the international level: It portrays Israel as a bulwark of Western democracy and shared cultural values in the Middle East, and through this, it seeks to win the sympathy and support of Hungarian readers. In the context of Hasbara, this strategy helps position Israel on the „right side” of the global political chessboard.
4. Terrorism and the Framing of the Palestinian Narrative
One of Hasbara’s primary goals is to portray the Palestinian resistance as terrorist and to delegitimize it. Olivér Hende consistently refers to them as terrorist organizations (e.g.,. Hamas, (Islamic Jihad) refers to Palestinian armed groups, and explains Palestinian violence solely in terms of terrorism, setting aside the broader context of the conflict, its historical and political context (e.g.,. occupation, (allegations of apartheid). In contrast, Israel portrays its military actions as „self-defense” and the „war on terror.”. This framing is crucial for Hasbara, to give Israel the moral high ground in how the conflict is perceived.
5. The Journalist’s Role
The work of Olivér Hende At Neokohn's not traditional, should be interpreted as objective information, but rather advocacy journalism(as advocacy journalism). Although he often cites facts and sources in his articles, selectively, a predetermined, It uses this to reinforce a pro-Israel narrative. From this perspective, his work can be viewed as a voluntary and deliberate implementation of Hasbara within the Hungarian-language media landscape. Its purpose is not to present events in an impartial manner, but rather the strong and effective representation of Israel’s position.
Summary
Olivér Hende’s „career” at Neokohn A prime example of hasbara in the Hungarian-language media. His writings systematically construct and defend Israel’s narrative, while constantly attacking and delegitimizing criticism of the Jewish state and those who voice it. His work is not independent journalism, but rather part of a clearly defined effort to advance political and ideological interests, which is aligned with Hasbara’s global goals and methods.
