Well, here we go. Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of Techno War. This is the reality of today’s wars, and I think it is smart to take a serious look at what is being used. Just like with politics, and how instrumental social networking was for Obama in his fundraising and campaign endeavors, the internet and social networking will be used for information war.
Below I have posted all of the stories I could find about how Israel is using these technologies. Wired’s Danger Room has done a great job in reporting on these technologies, and I will try to expand on that a little. So let me touch on a few of the interesting ones for the sake of conversation.
First and foremost, the one tactic that has helped Israel the most in this war, is informants. And specifically, informants that hate Hamas, which would mean Fatah party members. Or they get informants through money or leverage, but either way, informants are the ones that help the most in this war. Informants identify leaders and munitions, and report on any actions of the enemy–all extremely useful for the war. Hamas knows this too, and they are extremely paranoid about informants. They are so paranoid, that they use torture and murder to find out who the informants are, and this is a little reported fact of life in Gaza. Fox News did a great story about how Hamas dealt with informants using torture and murder, and how that only helped to drive Palestinians away. (please see the Escape from Hamas story)
So how do you reach these future informants and give them the tools necessary to communicate back? Well you use Israelis, who speak arabic(with a palestinian accent), and get them into Gaza to do their thing. They also use technology. You drop leaflets with email and phone contacts, you set up Facebook pages or Youtube accounts or Twitter accounts, all with the idea of empowering those that support you or at least want to talk with you. You also use these technologies to control the message and information being thrown around out there.
The SMS or Text messaging game is what is really interesting to me, because this technology is quick to use and can be very discreet for all involved. Hamas is onto the game as well, but the Israelis have more of a chance of reaching out to Fatah supporters who would love to see Hamas destroyed. So the Israelis send out agents, and they also send out text messages and use the phone networks to their advantage. And because towers can be protected in Israel, and reach Gaza, then there is no chance for that to be blocked. The only way to block it, is for Hamas to seek out phones and take them–then check who they have been talking with.
The other thing I am seeing is the use of the phone to warn the populations of impending attacks. Israel will text message people and sound a Red Alert, as soon as a rocket is detected. But it also works the other way, for when Israel attacks Hamas targets in Gaza. Can you imagine the psychological impact of such a thing? Some dude calls you on the phone, tells you to leave because they will be bombing your building in two minutes, and then it happens. Perhaps people knew there were bombs in their apartment complex or house, or maybe not, but still the enemy has shown mercy by warning them and personally contacting them. Also, Israel has been using munitions that are smaller than the typical 500 pounders or 1000 pounders that they normally use, so the damage is smaller and more controlled. I am sure there would be way more deaths if it wasn’t for the calls and smarter use of munitions.
Finally, the other aspect of the techno war that I am seeing, is the embracing of these technologies to reach out and find support or to communicate calls to action. Through all of these networks, people are getting informed, they are talking with one another, and they bring in other friends. And like Obama did with his social networking sites, the Israelis are able to communicate and interact with their supporters. That means fund raising, but most importantly, intelligence.
The bigger your network, the greater the chance that you will rope in those that know things of importance. Much like all the Jihadist websites that spread information about how to build bombs or how to operate, the Israeli support networks will be doing the same for finding new uses of technology or for new tactics or better yet, new informants. The Israeli networks will also give calls out to their supporters to help in combating the propaganda war. Just look at Israel’s reaction to youtube pulling down videos? The IDF wanted those videos up, so people know that there were actually bombs being stored in a Mosque, or that the destruction is very specific and not some careless slaughter. Hamas depends on the propaganda war exclusively, and all of these technologies are ways for Israel to combat that. –Matt
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Israel on Second Life
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IDF Myspace
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IDF official Webpage
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Facebook Group Supporting IDF Action Against Gaza Terrorism Gathers Over 1,000 Members
December 30, 2008
Israelis, Jews and Christians from around the world are joining a Facebook community forum to express their support for the men and women of the Israel Defense Forces in their fight to counter terrorism against innocent civilians in Israel from Gaza.
The Facebook group is located here
Facebook is the largest Web 2.0 social networking Website on the Net, ranking as the fifth largest Website in the world with over 140 million active users.
The pro-Israel, pro-democracy and anti-terrorism site named: “I Support the Israel Defense Forces In Preventing Terror Attacks From Gaza” was created by Internet journalist, marketing, PR and SEO pioneer Joel Leyden.
The site states: “Responding to unprovoked terror rocket attacks from Hamas terrorists in Gaza against Israeli civilian populations, the Israel Defense Forces has launched a massive counter attack. This Facebook forum supports the brave men and women in the Israel Defense Forces who by air, water and ground protect Israel’s democracy and sovereign borders.
The Hamas government leaders and operatives, which activate terror from within civilian population centers, are the sole bearers of responsibility for Israel’s military response. This response is crucial for preserving Israel’s security interests.
The IDF Spokesperson states that anyone sponsoring terror, hosting terror in his house, housing terror in his basement and sending his wives and children to serve as human shields – is considered a terrorist.
The IDF will continue its activity against terror activities according to operational assessments held by the Chief of the General Staff. The IDF is ready to widen and deepen its activity against all terror organizations in the Gaza Strip, as long as it is necessary.
In addition, the Israel IDF Homefront Command and emergency authorities, have taken all necessary measures for preparing the civilian population.
The group is open 24/7 as public opinion directly affects life on the ground. Please forward this Facebook room to your family, friends and the media. Let them know that Israel wants peace but will defend herself when attacked.”
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SEO Guru Taps Facebook To Support Israel
by Laurie Sullivan,
Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 7:00
AMMarketing and SEO Guru Joel Leyden is reaching out through search engine optimization and social media to help Jews and Christians express their support for the Israel Defense Force and Israeli civilians.The Facebook forum, “I Support the Israel Defense Forces In Preventing Terror Attacks From Gaza”–created about three hours after the first strikes were made in Gaza–explains Israel’s position to the world, Leyden said. “The stickiness makes it a medium that lets people feel, rather than remain passive,” he said. “You can put messages in MySpace or Facebook, but it goes nowhere until you drive the content through search engines like Google News. Now you’re reaching 60 million people instantly.”The combination of social media and SEO creates the “most powerful voice” to which most people are completely oblivious, Leyden said. Although efforts are still somewhat disorganized, Leyden said he has been approached by the U.S. State Department to educate government officials on how to reach wide audiences with SEO and social media, which he refers to as “Web 2.0.”Crossing international boundaries in a world where the Internet has become a tool to reach people globally also requires marketers to remain sensitive to other cultures and how people respond to campaigns.For marketers, the key benefit of social media marketing is connecting with as many people as possible, which is Leyden’s approach. Citing a survey from Marketing Executives Networking Group, research firm eMarketer said that 85.4% of survey participants noted customer engagement as the main benefit of social media marketing, followed by direct customer communications, at 65%; speedy feedback/ results, at 59.9%; and learning customer preferences, at 59.1%. Brand-building and reach fell much lower on the list, at 48.2% and 37.2% of respondents, respectively.Leyden, which owns the Israel News Agency, said his Facebook page pledges support for brave men and women in the Israel Defense Forces who by air, water and ground protect Israel’s democracy and sovereign borders. The site’s friend count quickly climbed from 3,232 members on Dec. 28 at 9 P.M. EST to nearly 17,000 members on midday on Dec. 30. A link to a video on Google’s YouTube also provides insight as to why the Israel Defense Forces confront Islamic terrorists in Gaza.It’s not “hasbara,” which means “to explain or PR spin,” Leyden said. “It’s about using social media and SEO to get the facts out. Israel lacks professional manpower and the budget. We put the money into weapons to defend ourselves, but public opinion has an influence on many lives.”
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Text messages and phone calls add psychological aspect to warfare in Gaza
Hamas fires threatening text messages at Israeli mobile phones while Israel bombards Palestinians with menacing phone calls
Hazem Balousha in Gaza City and Toni O’Loughlin in Jerusalem
Saturday 3 January 2009
Israel and Hamas have mounted psychological warfare on each others’ civilian populations. Hamas says it is firing threatening text messages at Israeli mobile phones and jamming radio stations while Israel is bombarding Palestinians with menacing phone calls and leaflets.
“The messages say that the Palestinian resistance missiles will reach you wherever you are and your government won’t be able to protect you,” said Abu Mujaheid, spokesman for the Palestinian Resistance Committees.
Hamas says it can send up to 70,000 text messages but so far there have been reports of just dozens.
“[Israel is] sending text messages and interrupting Palestinian radio and trying to scare Palestinians with their messages so we are running a counter campaign by sending text messages to Israelis,” Mujaheid said.
According to Israeli media reports the messaging is crude. “Rockets on all cities, shelters not protect, Qassam rocket, Hamas,” is how the text reportedly read in Hebrew.
“This is another manipulation by Hamas, whether they are sending the messages or not,” said Captain Benjamin Rutland, a spokesman for Israel’s military, who said he could not confirm what Hamas claiming.
“While they claim to send threatening messages, the IDF uses messages to warn people to evacuate areas that are about to be attacked because they are being used for terrorist purposes,” Rutland said.
But many Palestinians perceive Israel’s messages as threatening.
One leaflet found in Gaza City by the Guardian reads: “To the residents of the Gaza Strip, be responsible for your fate. The rockets launched by terrorists are putting you and your families at risk. For your safety, please keep your call secret. The Israeli army will respond if the rocket fire continues.”
“If you want to help your families and friends and brothers in the Gaza Strip please call,” it says, listing what appears to be either a Jerusalem or Ramallah number.
There is also a mistrust of Israel’s phone calls, some of which are recorded and some of which are live, warning people they have just minutes to evacuate before they bomb the house.
Hamdi Shakura, a human rights lawyer at the Palestinian Human Rights Centre in Gaza says despite the hundreds of phone calls to families warning their house is about to be blown up, only 37 have been destroyed.
Many families have left their homes to stay with friends and relatives.
“Who can tell where the next hit will be,” says Shakura. “Who can advise people not to take the threats seriously, it’s psychological war fare but it’s real.”
The Palestinian phone company, Paltel, has been phoning customers in Gaza to reassure them that they are not responsible for the calls that Israel has been making to their phones.
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Date: 02 / 01 / 2009
Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli airplanes dropped leaflets calling for Gazans to inform their military of the whereabouts of projectile launchers in return for aid and assistance.
The papers were found by the thousands all over Gaza on Friday morning and bear the signature of the Israeli military.
The leaflet reads:
To the residents of the Gaza Strip,
Take responsibility for your fate!
If you wish to provide help and assistance to your people in the sector, call the number below to provide us with the needed information. The projectile launchers and the terrorist elements pose a threat to you and your families.
The power to stop the massacre is in your hands.
Don’t hesitate!
We will be glad to receive any information you have and it is not necessary to give us your personal information.
Your anonymity is guaranteed.
Call us at the following number:
02-5839749
Or you can e-mail us at: helpgaza2008@gmail.com to provide us with any information on the terrorist factions.
Note: To protect your safety, we ask you to be secretive when you call us.
Head of the Israeli Defense Forces
Israel has used similar tactics on several occasions, most recently during their 2006 war in Lebanon and earlier in 2003 during an attack on the West Bank. The fliers are meant to shake the civilian population and crush the spirit of the ‘home front.’
Israeli military personnel have also cut into the Voice of Al-Quds radio station in Gaza and broadcast announcements to Gazans that convey a message similar to the leaflets.
At the same time, the Al-Qassam Brigades, which is affiliated with Hamas, has managed to cut into Israeli military radio channels and broadcast statements in Hebrew warning soldiers against entering the Gaza Strip.
It is not clear whether or not Google is aware of Israel’s usage of its GMail program for military purposes. Calls to its headquarters in California seeking comment on Friday were not immediately returned.
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Plans Collide In Gaza
January 3, 2009:
The Israeli attack on Hamas forces in Gaza on December 27th, hit fifty targets within 220 seconds. The fifty Israeli aircraft assembled off the coast, and delivered a well rehearsed attack designed to take out Hamas targets before key commanders could get away. Israeli intelligence had discovered Hamas plans for such an Israeli attack, which involved key Hamas personnel immediately dispersing to hiding places. These included hospitals, where the Hamas men would dress in staff uniforms and blend in. Other safe havens included nursery schools, and other places where the Hamas officials would be surrounded by lots of civilians at all times. Thus the tight timing for the Israeli attack, intended to catch the key Hamas personnel before they could disperse.
Hamas knew that the Israelis have an informant network in Gaza. The key to Israeli success in dealing with Palestinian terrorists has always been an informant network within the Palestinian community. Many of these Palestinian informants are doing it for the money. Israelis pay for information. They also use other inducements (help with the bureaucracy, medical care, etc). If that fails, they use blackmail and threats. Palestinian terrorist organizations have been unsuccessful in their attempts to shut down the informant networks, and many innocent Palestinians have died simply because they were falsely accused of being informants.
In addition, the Israelis gain a lot of information via electronic intelligence work and UAVs that are constantly in the air over Gaza. Israel seeks to make the terrorists think that it’s the gadgets, not informants, gathering the information. To the Israelis, inducing paranoia among the Palestinians is seen as a successful weapon. All this has helped keep the terrorists out of Israel for nearly five years now, something no one thought was possible.
The Israelis also have hundreds of police and military operatives who can pass as Arabs (their families came from Arab countries shortly after Israel was founded in 1947). These Israelis speak fluent Arabic (with a Palestinian accent), in addition to their Arab appearance. These agents dress as Palestinians and enter Palestinian areas to recruit and run Palestinian informants. At least in the West Bank. In Gaza, the Israelis use pro-Fatah Palestinians. At least a third of the Gaza population is still pro-Fatah, and continued Hamas pressure has not changed that.
The Israelis also make use of the phone system to avoid civilian casualties. For example, the bombing campaign after the initial attack was directed mostly at the thousands of rockets Hamas had stockpiled. Most of these were stored in civilian housing. This was a technique pioneered by Hezbollah in Lebanon. There, some homes would have a basement excavated, to provide more space for rockets. Israeli intelligence is still identifying these storage locations. When one is found, the Israelis will phone the home just before the attack and tell the civilians they have a few minutes to get out before the place blows up. In at least one case, the civilians were defiant, and went to the roof, believing that the Israelis would not bomb with women and children in plain sight. In response, the Israeli fighter came in low and fired some 20mm cannon shells right next to the building. The panicked civilians fled the building and the place blew up shortly thereafter.
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Hamas sends text messages to Israeli cell phones
Ali Waked
Published: 01.01.09,
Organization makes original use of technology to warn Israelis of dire results unless Gaza offensive comes to a halt
Ali Waked
Psychological warfare? Dozens of Israelis received text messages form Hamas Thursday morning, stammeringly warning them that the offensive in Gaza will only bring about massive rocket fire on Israel.
The message read: “Rockets on all cities, shelters not protect, Qassam rocket, Hamas.” A source in Hamas military wing confirmed the new tactic, adding that Hamas wants to warn the Israeli public against a future escalation in Gaza.
Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) Spokesman Abu Abir said that the Palestinian organizations have a few surprises in store for the Israelis, and not just military-wise.
“Telephone messages and breaching the enemy’s radio frequencies are just some of the surprises we have for the Israeli side. You will be very surprised by our military and technological capabilities.”
Abu Abir then warned against a ground incursion into Gaza: “The massacre inflicted on the Israeli tanks in the Second Lebanon War will repeat itself in the Strip. Israel has been defeated, and bombing empty government buildings just indicated its distress.”
The Israel Air Force strikes on Gaza, he added, “indicate nothing but their frustration over failing to target the military and people they were after. It is a sign that the resistance is winning.”
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