The recent announcements by several European countries of their intention to recognize a Palestinian state come as no surprise.
These declarations are the result of longstanding trends: the structure of the United Nations, which grants an automatic majority to Israel's adversaries; the strengthening of a false narrative portraying Israel as an occupying and oppressive power; and the evolving political reality in Europe, where large, organized Muslim communities with electoral clout have become decisive players.
In the UK, for instance, there are now 11 Muslim mayors. This helps explain why a similar process has not taken place in the US, where such communities do not exist on the same scale.
Still, it's important to stress that these declarations carry no real short-term consequences. The UN General Assembly has no authority to create a state, and its decisions are non-binding. Only the Security Council can do that, and a scenario in which it does so without a US veto is simply unrealistic. What we are seeing, then, is not a "diplomatic tsunami," but rather a case of short-sighted European politicians scoring domestic points at the cost of encouraging Hamas and prolonging the war.
Yet while there may be no immediate cause for alarm, the long-term threat is far more serious. These recognitions are part of a broader global effort to entrench a dangerous narrative: that Israel is a country that occupies, violates human rights, and kills children.
Our enemies understand they cannot defeat the IDF on the battlefield, so they are attempting to tie its hands through a war of perception. Delegitimization campaigns could eventually lead to arms embargoes, economic sanctions, and international isolation. In other words, even dozens of F-35 fighter jets will be of no use if the world forbids us from using them.
International history shows that narratives can be as powerful as tanks. The apartheid regime in South Africa did not collapse solely due to internal pressures, but largely as a result of a global campaign that cast the state as illegitimate and led to crippling sanctions. In the 1990s, Serbia likewise found itself internationally isolated when the narrative of war crimes reshaped the diplomatic and military landscape. Those who underestimate the power of perception may find themselves defeated before a battle even begins.
This is both the warning and the opportunity. Israel cannot afford to keep fighting the public opinion war through ad hoc "crisis management." We respond to extreme incidents instead of waging a proactive, strategic and visionary campaign.
There is no single entity leading Israel's narrative battle, no "public diplomacy chief of staff" with a budget, tools, and authority. The Foreign Ministry still operates under an outdated model of classic diplomacy, while the real battles are being waged on TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, platforms where the Israeli voice is nearly absent.
And this is precisely where Israel must immediately go on the offensive. It's not enough to show our "better side"; we must constantly expose the crimes of our enemies. We must present the world with the brutality of Hamas and Hezbollah, the Iranian funding of terrorism, and the cynical use of children and civilians as human shields by our enemies.
Even when dealing with hostile media outlets, whether antisemitic publications like The New York Times or broadcasters like Al Jazeera, Israel must go on the offensive, undermine their credibility, and denounce anyone attempting to whitewash this brutality. A broad and aggressive perception campaign will only become possible if we recognize this as a full-scale battlefield and equip a future "public diplomacy chief of staff" with a security-level budget and toolkit.
Failing to do so means losing the hearts and minds of the young generation that will be leading the world 20 years from now. But if we act wisely, we can transform our technological prowess, sharp minds and abundant resources into perception dominance, not only to defend Israel from slanderous attacks but to expose the truth and unmask the deadly terror confronting us.
The battle for perception is not a secondary engagement in scope. It determines whether Israel will retain the legitimacy to defend itself in future wars. It's time to recognize that public diplomacy and perception are integral parts of our national security.
Anyone who thinks wars are won solely with tanks and aircraft is mistaken. In the 21st century, battles are also won on screens. And we must win there, too.
Gilad Erdan has served as Israel's ambassador to the US and the UN, as a minister, and as a Knesset member. He currently heads the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy.
