Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett, running again, publicly laid out a $730M plan to push pro-Israel messaging worldwide, which is bad news for critics of Israel and embarrassing for Western media that denies such influence exists.

• Bennett wants a national "hasbara" agency with its own budget, professional staff, and spokespeople placed in global media, podcasts, and universities.
• The plan includes a "war room" to monitor online speech, flag what it calls disinformation, and push counter-content fast.
• It also folds private pro-Israel groups already operating abroad into one coordinated campaign — an open admission such networks exist.
• Bennett is one of the front-runners to replace Netanyahu, but he is just as hawkish, backing the Gaza war and floating attacks on Turkey.
• The fact that this is being announced openly suggests Israel feels secure enough that it no longer hides the effort.

Outlook: If Bennett wins, expect a bigger, more visible Israeli influence push in US media and on campuses, and louder fights over what counts as criticism versus antisemitism.