Paid Influence Operations
From DOJ FARA filings to pastor delegations, the Israeli government is paying Americans to shape public opinion. These are the documented operations.
The Esther Project
The Esther Project is a code-named influence operation revealed through mandatory disclosures in the DOJ FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) database. The filing shows that a company called Bridges Partners LLC was registered in Delaware in June 2025, with a contract worth up to $900,000 dedicated to recruiting American social media influencers to produce pro-Israel content.
The operation works by onboarding 3-6 influencers at a time, each expected to produce 25-30 pieces of content per month across TikTok and Instagram. At an estimated $6,000-$7,000 per post, these influencers produce content designed to boost pro-Israel narratives among American audiences — without necessarily disclosing the foreign government connection to viewers.
Bridges Partners LLC registered in Delaware
Shell company formed specifically for the influence operation
FARA filing submitted to DOJ
Operation registered under Foreign Agents Registration Act, revealing foreign government connection
Influencer recruitment and content production
3-6 influencers onboarded at a time, each posting 25-30 pieces/month on TikTok and Instagram
Up to $900,000 in total value
Estimated $6,000-$7,000 per post for recruited influencers
Sources: Truthout, Times of Israel, The Forward, DOJ FARA database (fara.us.doj.gov)
Pastor Mobilization
In December 2025, approximately 1,000 American pastorswere flown to Israel with all expenses paid — flights, hotels, meals, and programming. The trips were organized by Friends of Zion in partnership with the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
The pastors were trained as “ambassadors” for Israel, equipped with talking points to bring back to their congregations. Each pastor potentially reaches hundreds or thousands of congregants weekly.
The organizers have announced plans to bring 10,000 pastors in 2026— funded through the Israeli Foreign Ministry's $630-730 million hasbara budget.
1,000 US pastors flown to Israel
All expenses paid — flights, hotels, meals, and programming. Organized by Friends of Zion + Israeli Foreign Ministry
100 North Carolina pastors + spouses on separate trip
Targeted state-level pastor mobilization with additional all-expenses-paid delegation
10,000 pastors targeted for Israel trips
Massive scale-up announced, funded through the $630-730M hasbara budget approved by the Israeli cabinet
Sources: Responsible Statecraft, Antiwar.com, The Jewish Chronicle, Washington Spectator
The Math
Esther Project Reach
Pastor Program Reach
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Esther Project?
The Esther Project is a code-named influence operation discovered through DOJ FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) filings. A Delaware-registered LLC called Bridges Partners was formed in June 2025 with a contract worth up to $900,000 to recruit US social media influencers to create pro-Israel content on TikTok and Instagram. Each influencer was estimated to receive $6,000-$7,000 per post and was expected to produce 25-30 pieces of content per month. Sources: Truthout, DOJ FARA database, The Forward.
Why are pastors being flown to Israel?
In December 2025, approximately 1,000 US pastors were flown to Israel with all expenses paid, organized by Friends of Zion and the Israeli Foreign Ministry. The pastors were trained as 'ambassadors' to promote pro-Israel narratives to their congregations. The organizers have announced plans to bring 10,000 pastors in 2026. This program is funded through the Israeli Foreign Ministry's expanded hasbara (propaganda) budget. Sources: Responsible Statecraft, The Jewish Chronicle, Washington Spectator.
Is the Esther Project legal?
The operation was registered with the DOJ under FARA, which requires agents of foreign governments to disclose their activities. However, the content produced by the influencers does not necessarily disclose its connection to the Israeli government to the audience viewing it. The legal question centers on whether the disclosure requirements of FARA are sufficient when the end product — social media posts — reaches millions of Americans without any indication of foreign government sponsorship. Sources: DOJ FARA filing, Truthout.
How much does Israel spend on these influence operations?
The Esther Project contract alone is worth up to $900,000. The pastor trips for 1,000 pastors in 2025 (flights, hotels, meals, programming) represent millions in additional costs. These operations are funded through the Israeli Foreign Ministry's hasbara budget, which was $150 million in 2025 and has been approved at $630-730 million for 2026. Sources: DOJ FARA database, Times of Israel, The New Arab.
Sources
DOJ FARA Database: Foreign Agents Registration Act filings — fara.us.doj.gov
Truthout: “Israel Is Quietly Paying American Influencers to Spread Pro-Israel Content” — truthout.org
Times of Israel: Esther Project and hasbara budget reporting — timesofisrael.com
The Forward: Influencer payment analysis — forward.com
Responsible Statecraft: Pastor mobilization reporting — responsiblestatecraft.org
Antiwar.com: All-expenses-paid pastor trips analysis — antiwar.com
The Jewish Chronicle: Friends of Zion program details — thejc.com
Washington Spectator: North Carolina pastor delegation reporting — washingtonspectator.org