A Cultural Shift in Diplomacy
Barak Schwartz, a basketball trainer turned advocate for Israel, reflects on the limits of conventional hasbara, the practice of persuasive messaging that often reinforces views among those already sympathetic to the cause.
Growing up in a family of rabbis and spending formative years in Israel during the Second Intifada, Schwartz later turned to basketball, a passion that now serves as his platform for engagement. He recalls wearing casual basketball attire when meeting anti‑Israel protesters, using the shared love of the game to create a human connection that transcends political symbols.
His strategy centers on finding common ground — whether a love of sport, a hometown tie, or a mutual language — to open dialogue with the silent majority. By inviting immigrants from each U.S. state to speak with their communities back home, he believes Israel can bypass ideological dead‑ends and foster genuine listening.
The conversation also revisits the 1972 Lod Airport massacre, a tragic episode that continues to echo in collective memory, and the recent funeral of Kozo Okamoto, whose legacy remains contested decades later. These historical touchstones illustrate how narratives persist and evolve beyond their original events.
In the tech sphere, the AI platform Base44, founded by Israeli reservist Maor Shlomo, was recently acquired by Wix for $80 million, underscoring the rapid rise of Israeli innovations and the broader implications for how ideas travel across borders.
Schwartz cautions against dismissing nuanced discussions about civilian casualties in Gaza, warning that credibility hinges on acknowledging complexity rather than retreating into defensive postures.