Joel Leyden

The author is president of Leyden Communications Israel, a crisis communications, public affairs and digital PR organization with offices in New York and Ra’anana. He has served as an officer in the IDF Spokespersons Office and as a senior consultant to the Foreign Ministry.

A BODY is carried after three people were killed in a mistaken IDF strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City last week. Hamas embeds its fighters and weapons inside schools, hospitals, and yes, churches, the writer argues.

Israel can't afford to ignore the PR front of the Gaza war - opinion

 Screenshots of the Signal chat with Trump personnel and Atlantic Editor in Chief Jeffery Goldberg, March 26, 2023.

Can America’s allies rely on US security communications? - opinion

 US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s relationship with the Jewish community, Israel, and America is complex and multifaceted, says the writer.

Can Jews support Trump’s pro-Israel policies while criticizing his US record? - opinion


Is there apartheid in Israel? - opinion

Israel is a democratic state that offers equal rights to all its citizens, including Palestinian citizens of Israel – who make up about 20% of the population.

 SUPREME COURT Justice Khaled Kabub leans forward, acknowledging the applause of others, at a ceremony of newly-appointed judges at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, in 2022.

Is Israel’s national airline profiteering? - opinion

El Al must offer immediate, accessible flights for all those trying to return home to serve. The government must step in and facilitate these efforts; there can be no more excuses.

 BAHRAINI PALACE Guard stands near an El Al airplane that carried an Israeli delegation and the US treasury secretary to Muharraq, Bahrain, in 2020. The writer suggests that the airline has turned its back on the very soldiers who fight for our survival.

The dangers of IDF logistical transparency – opinion

After Sunday's attack in Binyamina, we must keep our soldiers safe by not publishing details of attacks.

 The aftermath of the Binyamina drone attack.

Doing business with Israel: The time is now - opinion

The world needs nations like Israel, and Israel needs partners willing to invest in its future. It’s time to act. The opportunity is here.

 THE YOKNE’AM High-Tech Park, in Lower Galilee: Israel’s high-tech sector, bolstered by advances in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, is second to none, the writer asserts.

A call for compassion: understanding by US Jews on Shabbat - opinion

As violence escalates in Israel, it's time for communities to reevaluate rigid interpretations and embrace compassion over ritual.

 Women of the Wall praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, August 9, 2021.

Vice President Kamala Harris needs cross-cultural Middle East training - opinion

Harris and Netanyahu need to meet again. This time with cross-cultural, security professionals and a bottle of Israeli wine.

 US VICE PRESIDENT Kamala Harris delivers remarks following a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, last Thursday. She needs immediate and urgent cross-cultural training in Mideast negotiations, the writer argues.

Is Israel losing the war against Hamas in Gaza? - opinion

Does Israel have professional crisis communications? The answer is yes, but it is extremely limited.

 IDF Spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari delivers Sunday evening public address. March 24, 2024.

Looking at the Moon from Jerusalem on April 11

Was the SpaceIL Beresheet Moon mission a success? Yes. On a scale of 1-10, we would give it an eight.

Beresheet takes a selfie minutes before touching down on the moon

Antisemitism – from Gaza to Durham

An Open Letter To Durham, North Carolina Mayor Steve Schewel

The Jerusalem Post - logo

Will American Jews wake up after 28 bomb threats?

Police at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City in Overland Park, Kansas (File)