WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Israel Project rolled out a Spanish-language operation as part of its recent expansion.
The Spanish program, unveiled Oct. 7, will replicate The Israel Project’s 8-year-old American program, which targets journalists and opinion leaders in the United States and Israel with pro-Israel material and research, and facilitates meetings with Israeli officials as well as tours.
Leah Soibel of The Israel Project’ Jerusalem office will direct the program. Its launch was spurred in part by Iranian plans to launch a Spanish-language news channel targeting Latin America, a continent that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has made a priority in expanding Iranian influence,
A number of other Jewish groups, including B’nai B’rith International and the American Jewish Committee, have existing programs in Latin America.
In recent months, Th Israel Project has launched similar expansions in Europe and among Arabic-language journalists. The expansions include new hirings, including Alan Elsner, a veteran Reuters correspondent and novelist, as communications director.
