Assassinated Conservative activist Charlie Kirk had privately urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to overhaul the country’s global communications strategy, warning that Israel was “losing the information war,” according to a letter revealed by the New York Post.
The letter, written in May this year, shows the late Turning Point USA leader expressing deep concern that Israel’s struggle was not only on the battlefield in Gaza but also across social media platforms. With Generation Z scrolling past pro-Israel content “faster than a skipped ad,” Kirk cautioned that diminishing online support could weaken U.S. political backing.
“My team and I have spent months analysing these trends and debating ideas that could help you and your country push back against these disturbing developments,” he wrote. “Anti-Israel sentiment can undermine American support for Israel.”
Kirk, who had defended Israel on U.S. college campuses as part of his conservative youth organisation, emphasised that his criticism came “from a place of deep love for Israel and the Jewish people.”
“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,’” he added.
Netanyahu first referenced the letter during a 18 September video address, delivered eight days after Kirk, 31, was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University. The Prime Minister dismissed as “monstrous” conspiracy theories suggesting Israel had been behind the killing.
Right-wing commentator Candace Owens and others had alleged that Kirk was being pressured into defending Israel in public while privately questioning U.S. support. However, billionaire investor Bill Ackman later released private text messages contradicting this claim.
Kirk urged Netanyahu’s office to stop “subcontracting” Israel’s rhetorical defences to American allies. He noted that, on university campuses, he often found himself defending Israel “more vigorously than the Prime Minister’s office.”
“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,” he wrote. “Israel is losing support even in conservative circles. This should be a five alarm fire.”
His proposals included setting up a rapid-response team on X, creating an “Israel Truth Network” as a fact-checking hub, and showcasing hostages released from Gaza on U.S. speaking tours. He also recommended reframing messaging so that Israel consistently highlights Hamas’s use of civilians as human shields.
“When you don’t push back, anti-Semitism and anti-Israel propaganda fill the void,” he warned.
Kirk criticised Israel’s traditional press briefings, describing them as outdated: “This looks like a scene out of the 1970’s – like some old Walter Cronkite clips of the TV news. You need to tear down your old ways of communicating and start over from scratch.”
Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested a day after the shooting and charged with aggravated murder. Prosecutors have confirmed they will seek the death penalty. Robinson appeared virtually in court on Monday, where his defence requested a preliminary hearing to assess whether sufficient evidence exists for trial. The next hearing is set for 30 October.
In closing his letter, Kirk reflected on his motivation: “The Holy Land is so important to my life, and it pains me to see support for Israel slip away.”
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