WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several months before his assassination, Charlie Kirk penned an honest five-page letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing his “deep love for Israel and the Jewish people.” Kirk explained in the letter his purpose for writing to Netanyahu was to urge him to drastically change how Israel communicates so it could better counter misinformation with truth and reach younger generations where they get their news—social media.

After Kirk was assassinated on September 10 on a Utah college campus, there have been conflicting narratives regarding his evolving stance on Israel. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and TPUSA Faith, organizations dedicated to reaching college students on campuses about American ideals and biblical truth, opened his letter with a heartfelt affirmation toward Israel and the Jewish people.

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister, One of my greatest joys as a Christian is advocating for Israel and forming alliances with Jews in the fight to protect Judeo-Christian civilization,” wrote Kirk. “Everything written here is from a place of deep love for Israel and the Jewish people.” He would go on to write, “I often spend half my time on these campus tours defending Jews and Israel which I’m proud to do because I love Israel and love the Jewish faith.”

Kirk’s letter clearly and unmistakably destroys the false narrative that he was waivering in his support for Israel. The contrary narratives that say otherwise just illustrate the point of Kirk’s letter to Netanyahu, which states there is an “information war” being fought on social media and that misinformation can sway public opinion.

In the letter, Kirk told Netanyahu it is important to be “brutally honest with those you love,” and so Kirk was very blunt with him about the challenge Israel faces in the information war. 

He conveyed that his 5,000-plus audiences across American college campuses routinely posed hostile questions about Israel. The questions commonly involved accusations of Israel being “apartheid,” conducting “ethnic cleansing,” “responsible for 9/11,” and much more.

“In my opinion, Israel is losing the information war and needs a communications intervention,” wrote Kirk. By citing polls, Kirk noted that even in conservative circles that Israel support is trending downward. 

“This should be a five-alarm fire,” wrote Kirk. “Mr. Prime Minister, I urge you to REVAMP your information warfare strategy from top to bottom.”

Kirk noted that Israel “never asks for American troops because Israel does its own fighting.” So, Kirk counseled that it should take the same approach in the information war and stop relying on third party influencers and build its own “homegrown” messengers. He went far beyond criticism and offered Netanyahu a whole communication strategy to push back against the anti-Israel sentiment that could undermine support for Israel. 

• He recommended Israel creating a “rapid-response media team” to counter misinformation in real time similar to that of President Donald Trump’s White House Rapid Response  47 team.
• Kirk proposed launching an “Israel Truth Network,” a “one-stop source” of information  for news, fact-checking, books, podcasts, and social media content where false criticisms of Israel can be “thoroughly debunked.”
• Kirk advised for Israelis to be making their case “24/7 on social media” on why they need to defend itself against Iran’s nuclear sites.
• Additional communication activities consisted of sending released Israeli hostages on U.S. speaking tours, to creating social media campaigns with average Israeli citizens titled “Dude, you got us wrong!” and emphasizing its humanitarian and technological partnerships to show what Americans get in return from being a partner and an ally with Israel.

Ultimately, Kirk urged Netanyahu for Israel to define itself and to no longer allow its enemies  to do so. 

Kirk ended the letter like he began it expressing his love for Israel

“The Holy Land is so important to my life, and it pains me to see support for Israel slip away,” he wrote. “Feel free to contact me on my private number if you would like to discuss this further.”

In a social media post after Kirk’s death, Netanyahu praised Kirk as “[a] lion-hearted friend of Israel.” 

Chairman of Christians in Defense of Israel Mat Staver said, “The narratives that Charlie Kirk was wavering in his support for Israel are completely false. Charlie’s heartfelt letter and his counsel to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personified Charlie’s position regarding Israel and the Jewish people. His letter is brilliantly written to express his love and support of Israel while providing suggestions for affirmative messaging to combat the misinformation being spread about Israel and the Jewish people.”

The mission of Christians in Defense of Israel (CIDI) is to inspire goodwill ambassadors for Israel and the Jewish people. We accomplish this mission through education, advocacy, and a life-changing Holy Land tour. CIDI provides education and advocacy in multiple ways, including the Defender newsletter; brochures, books and booklets; radio and television; social media; and ongoing informative emails.