“Israel” pays US influencers without registering them as foreign agents

WASHINGTON, Oct. 02 (YPA) – The Israeli government directly paid American influencers without registering them as foreign agents, as part of a paid campaign to promote Israeli interests in the United States, according to newly released documents from US Department of Justice files related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

The documents indicated that the campaign, named “Project Esther,” had a budget of approximately $900,000 between June and December 2025. Influencers were paid to publish 25 to 30 posts per month according to Israeli directives. Participants work under the Israeli public relations firm “Bridge Partners LLC,” making them in violation of US foreign agent registration laws.

The files showed that funds were transferred from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the German branch of Bridge Partners, and then to its US entity, with additional expenses for setup and training included. Two Israelis, Uri Steinberg and Yair Levy, are listed as company owners. Some Israeli tourism companies are noted to sometimes serve as covers for security operations.

The documents also revealed that the recent meeting of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with American religious influencers was part of this program, organized by the “Gene Zion” organization and its subsidiary, “Project Philos,” with many attendees affiliated with one of the Christian organizations.

US law requires any influencer working under the supervision of a foreign government and receiving funds to register as a foreign agent. This campaign ignored that legal obligation, while some American companies and individuals have recently registered as foreign agents for similar activities in support of Israeli interests.

@E.Y.M