Israel and Social Media Or Wherein We Discuss Why Benjamin Netanyahu Should Update His Twitter Account More Than Twice A Month

Now I am fairly new to the social media scene, only having been on Twitter since August of this year and on Facebook earlier this year.

For me, this is ok as I am what is called a "late adopter" of certain technology trends and I am not the Prime Minister of Israel.

The Government of Israel has fully deployed social media - Twitter, Facebook and Youtube - in an effort to communicate and engage with not only Israelis living in the haaretz, but with also the worldwide Jewish Diaspora and other interested parties.  With many pressing issues facing Israel, govenment use of social media is an efficient, rapid and dynamic use of technology to keep abreast of situations and information in a part of the world where information can change in an instant.  

A good example of this engagement is Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Alayon.  He has a dedicated URL which redirects to his Facebook page which is linked with his Twitter feed and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Youtube page.

Deputy Minister Ayalon is an active Twitter and Facebook user and every time I have messaged him on either of those sites, he has personally responded rather quickly. 

It is this type of engagement the Israeli public and Jewish Diaspora desire from our leaders.

Another prominent example of this engagement is Tzipi Livni, Leader of The Opposition in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament.) Tzipi has a Facebook page, Twitter feed and a Youtube channel all of which are interconnected and updated several times a day in both Hebrew and English.

In short, she knows her audience, how to connect with them through various platforms and channels and does so frequently.

Most ministries of the Government of Israel maintain all the requisite social media accounts.  

For a list of all Government of Israel offices and units with Twitter feeds, go here.

Amongst the offices and agencies on Twitter are the Tel Aviv Police, most Israeli embassies/consulates and several NGO's associated with the Government.

Take for instance the Israeli Defense Forces.  The Office of The IDF Spokesperson has a blog which is updated regularly, often multiple times per day.   The  Office of The IDF Spokesperson has established presences on Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.

Israel is a nation at war with hostile elements who wish to see the Jewish State and the Jewish people wiped from the face of the earth, destroyed in a nuclear attack and in general put in a bad way.

In the 21st century, when conflict management and information warfare have become commonplace, messaging is key.  We, as Israelis and Jews, need to know that our leaders recognize this fact.

Why then has Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has both a personal and official Twitter feeds, not updated either in what could be termed AGES??

Prior to today, Bibi's official Twitter feed, which is mainatined by Dr. Eitan Eliram, had not been updated since November 18th, 2010 @ 0626 MST:

Bibi's personal Twitter account appears to have been similarly abandoned, not having been updated since November 8, 2010 @ 0800 MST:

For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to utilize any and all options available to communicate with the the Israeli public, the global Jewish Diaspora and other interested parties is simply ludicrous.  

He is the chief executive of the State of Israel, the most advanced and powerful country in the region which is brimming with bright, hardworking people who support him in his mission of securing the Jewish State and the Jewish people against those who would do us harm.  Any number of people are and would be able and willing to be the point person for this VITAL channel of communication. 

Hell, hire ME to do it!

I know that the majority of the Israeli public and American Jewry love Israel and support Bibi in doing what he must do to battle the jihadists. 

That said, we like to know what is going on with Israel and we have the chance to hear it right from the source and not selectively filtered through a news media outlet.

Bibi, just don't keep us in the dark.