The takeover the arms ship "Victoria" by IDF Navy Flotilla 13 commandoes was coordinated with the IDF Spokesman's Office, which held a briefing and operated new media services in real time. This was part of the lessons from the boarding of the Turkish ship "Mavi Marmara", which caused huge damage to Israel's image.
In contrast, this time, the IDF Spokesman's Office operated 50 bloggers worldwide, sending them immediate reports. A helicopter hovering over the ship sent images from the field.
The IDF made the strategic decision of giving the international media priority. Immediately following the seizure on Tuesday morning, the IDF Spokesman's Office began a massive distribution of video clips, including clips showing communications with the "Victoria's" captain, a clip showing an aerial view of the ship, and a clip of Israeli forces boarding the vessel.
"Globes" obtained a list of the briefings held, and currently being held, by the IDF Spokesman's Office. They show that in addition to bloggers in the US and Europe, special briefings were held with correspondents from "The New York Times", "Washington Post", and two major German papers. Press briefings were also held in Arabic, including for the BBC's Arabic Service and Alhurra TV.
The IDF Spokesman's Office's film department distributed stills showing soldiers boarding the ship, and the weaponry found on it.
Briefings were held for Jewish organizations and opinion-leaders around the world, which the IDF Spokesman's Office networked in the past year.
The incident began at 9 am, and the IDF Spokesman's Office made an official announcement at noon. Before then, for the first time in IDF history, scores of tweets and blog updates were sent out, including mentions of other seizures. Foreign news agencies were briefed, an IDF spokesman briefed "Al-Jezeera" in addition to the general briefing by the Navy Commander.
Immediately after the action, dozens of stills and video clips were put on YouTube and Flickr.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 16, 2011
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