Before his murder, conservative activist Charlie Kirk wrote a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advising him on how to counter anti-Israel sentiments held by younger generations and win the “information war” being waged, according to a copy of the letter obtained by the New York Post published on Tuesday.
Kirk’s letter, dated May 2, communicated his alarm at the “record levels” of “anti-Israel and anti-Semetic trends” on social media.
One of his “greatest joys as a Christian is advocating for Israel and forming alliances with Jews in the fight to protect Judeo-Christian civilization,” the Turning Point USA activist wrote. “My team and I have spent months analyzing these trends and debating ideas that could help you and your country pushback [sic] against these disturbing developments.”
“Anti-Israel sentiment can undermine American support for Israel,” Kirk warned.
“The purpose of this letter is to lay out our concerns and outline potential remedies. Everything written here is from a place of deep love for Israel and the Jewish people,” Kirk added. “I think it’s important to be brutally honest with those you love. In my opinion, Israel is losing the information war and needs a ‘communications intervention.’”
Netanyahu had apparently addressed the letter on September 18, only eight days after Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University.
The letter has put to bed, for many, rumors began by Candace Owens and other Conservative Israel-critics who claimed that Kirk was being blackmailed into supporting Israel but privately held critical views.
“I’m accused of being a paid apologist for Israel when I defend her; however, if I don’t defend Israel strongly enough, I’m accused of being anti-semitic,” Kirk wrote in his letter. “I know you’ve got a 7 front war and my kvetching pales in comparison. But I’m trying to convey to you that Israel is losing support even in conservative circles. This should be a 5 alarm fire.”
Fixing Israel's public image
Kirk made seven suggestions for fixing Israel’s public image, including building a rapid response team on X/Twitter, cultivating pro-Israel experts to fact-check misinformation about the war in real time, and creating an “Israel Truth Network.”
“When you don’t push back, anti-Semitism and anti-Israel propaganda fill the void,” he said. “A pro-Israel friend recently asked me, ‘Do Israelis even care how the world perceives their country?’”
To help make Israel’s reasons for the war clearer, Kirk also suggested sending some of the released hostages on speaking tours across the US.
“Also, these hostages and all your spokespersons should be arguing it’s Hamas that is committing genocide on their own people by using civilians as human shields and storing weapons in schools, hospitals etc,” he added. “That information drips out in the regular media but is almost nonexistent on social media.”
“Interview Jews, Israeli Arabs, Druze, orthodox [sic], secular etc. Ask Israelis what do they wish the world knew about Israel,” he explained. “Ask them to respond to examples of misinformation on social media. This could be an entire social media PR campaign called, ‘Dude, you got us wrong!’ Interview Israelis from all walks of life.”
Kirk also stressed it was essential that Netanyahu “do a better job” explaining why Israel must confront the Iran threat and stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
Among “many conservatives who support Israel, there is a concern that America could become entangled in a quagmire in Iran," Kirk admitted.
“In my opinion, you are losing the information war which will eventually translate into less political and military support from America,” he concluded. “The Holy Land is so important to my life, and it pains me to see support for Israel slip away.”