Israel-backed PR campaign targets 38 Arizona churches

An Israeli government-backed public relations campaign has identified 38 Arizona churches as potential targets, with several in Tucson specifically named. The campaign, which has been disclosed through documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, aims to “encourage Christians to have a more favorable view of the Nation of Israel.” The strategy includes geofencing, a digital tool that creates virtual boundaries around places of worship to deliver targeted advertisements to individuals entering those areas.

The campaign, organized by Show Faith by Works LLC—a California-based company led by conservative political consultant Chad Schnitger—represents Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The initiative is funded by Havas Media, a firm that has previously received Israeli government support for other influence efforts. The $3.26 million budget outlines a multifaceted approach, including digital advertising, educational resources for pastors, and outreach at Christian colleges.

Among the listed churches are several in Phoenix, Prescott, and Tucson, including Pantano Christian Church, Victory Assembly, Calvary Tucson, Casas Church, Christ Community Church, and Faith Community Church. The documents suggest the campaign will use geofencing to target these locations during worship hours, aiming to shape public perception through localized messaging.

The proposed digital ads are designed to “increase positive associations with the Nation of Israel while linking the Palestinian population with extremist factions.” Potential messages include challenging the “long-standing policy of a 2-state solution” and educating Christians about the alleged role of Palestinians in supporting extremist groups, such as Hamas. The campaign also seeks to use biblical arguments to reinforce the significance of Israel to Christians and promote tourism to the region.

In addition to digital outreach, the campaign plans to provide pastors with video messages and historical content for congregational use. It also includes a plan to hire students for on-campus engagement and develop a mobile unit called “The 10/7 Experience.” This unit would use virtual reality and multimedia displays to “highlight some of the atrocities from 10/7,” referring to the October 7th attacks. The campaign’s hiring strategy includes a “Hollywood Coordinator” tasked with leveraging film industry connections to enhance its outreach efforts.

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