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Maximum Israel

March 22, 2007 at 10:10 am | In Face to Face, Pop Culture, Advertising & Media | Send to a friend

So Maxim might not be the most intellectual monthly or the magazine of record for that matter, but it is a damn fine publication if you ask the boys in this office. And since this whole thing was our idea to begin with we couldn’t be more pleased. Ladies and gents, we bring you news of our latest efforts to show a little more of Israel’s sexier side…

UPDATE: here and here.

From Yediot Aharonot:

The Most Widely Read Men’s Magazine in America is Doing a Spread on the Beauty of Israeli Women

Beautiful Israel

Israeli beauty is being drafted to Israel’s global public relations campaign. The goal? To show that Israel is not just a land of war and terrorism, but also one of beautiful women and the good life.

Recent research suggests that when American men are asked what they think of when they think about Israel there are three answers: a war zone, tough people, and beautiful women.
The Consulate General of Israel in New York has decided to harness the third answer – Israeli beauty – in order to launch a campaign aiming to present Israel as not just a country of blood and tears, but one of endless beauty in its streets and on its beaches as well.

The Foreign Ministry has reached the conclusion that presenting Israel’s image to young Americans as a youthful country with beautiful people will improve our image and bring tourists to the country. The Consulate in New York decided that the best address for the campaign would be ‘Maxim’, the most popular men’s magazine in the United States, reaching 2.5 million readers.

Employees at the Consulate turned to the editors of the magazine and suggested an article on Israeli beauty, but the editors weren’t so enthused with the idea. The Consulate kept at it, though, until the editors finally got fed up: “send us pictures of 12 Israeli models, so that we at least know what we’re talking about,” they asked. And it was smooth sailing from that moment on.

The editors of the magazine received the portfolios of each of the models and were left with their jaws dropped from surprise. Of the 12 models they chose seven, who they deemed most appropriate to appear in the renowned magazine: Sharon Markovitch, Natalie Niv, Yarden Har’el, Morial, Nivit Bash, Tali Hendel, and former Miss Israel, Gal Gadot.

Next week the artistic director and photo director of the magazine will arrive in Israel, accompanied by three photographers and an elite hairstylist. As this will be an expensive production reaching tens of thousands of dollars, the America-Israel Friendship League and the Israeli PR firm “Israel21c” will be helping to fund the project.

Within the context of the spread, the personal stories of each of the seven models will be printed, representing the Israeli society that continues to live lives normally even during times of war or security threats. The photos will be shot with the backdrop of various sites in Gush Dan, including the Neve Tzedek neighborhood in Tel Aviv, Old Jaffa, the stock exchange area of Ramat Gan, the Azrieli towers, and the beaches of Tel Aviv. During the shoot there will also be a video produced about it, to be marketed to American tv.

Israel’s Consul General in New York, Ambassador Arye Mekel: “The project’s aim is to reach young audiences, and to emphasize the beautiful side of Israel, without any connection to the Arab-Israeli conflict.” Consul of Media and Public Affairs David Saranga, who initiated the project, said that its goal is to turn Israel into an attraction for tourists. “Research we did showed that Israel is not seen as relevant for men aged 18-34, and the goal of this project is to show that Israel is a modern country, full of life, youthful, and dynamic.”

UPDATE
see here and here.

20 Comments »

So much reading and no pictures? Post the pics, Gal Gadot rules, i was happy when she won Miss Israel.

Comment by Israeli — March 22, 2007
[…] “Updated several times a day by anonymous government employees, some of the blog’s recent posts have been titled “Hummus Up to My Eyeballs,” “‘Mamma Mia’ in Israel,” and “Who Says We Can’t Dance?” Although these entries valiantly attempt to fit in with the informal and irreverent tone common to the blogosphere, they carry an unmistakable whiff of government talking points. The blog entry used to introduce the state of Israel’s MySpace page, for example, began, “We all know that Israel sometimes has a tough time making friends,” before urging readers to “join our friends list” and “check out our favorites.” A post from Thursday titled “Maximum Israel” notes that the widely read American men’s magazine Maxim has a forthcoming spread on the beauty of Israeli women — a feature the Israeli consulate pushed for as “part of our latest efforts to show a little more of Israel’s sexier side.” (The post further notes that Maxim’s editors were reluctant at first, but after they were sent pictures of 12 Israeli models, “it was smooth sailing from that moment on.”) …” […]

Pingback by arblogger.com — March 23, 2007
Nice to the real beauty (my israel)

Comment by Caleb — March 24, 2007
This is very sad. There are beautiful women in every country. When will Israel learn that that only advantage it has in the world is its spiritual side which is unique only to it?

Comment by Aaron - LA, CA — March 26, 2007
Israel has the right idea. Attractive women will attract almost anyone’s attention.

Comment by Don — April 14, 2007
[…] The MSM can’t get enough of the fact that we happened to help Maxim Mag with a photo shoot in Israel. Yes the photo shoot helps us portray a different image of Israel to curious young American males, but all of these professional journos act as if all we do is read boy magazines and think of ways to objectify our co-nationals… well hmmm, on second thought… […]

Pingback by isrealli » Milking the Media for All its Worth: ABC.com — May 2, 2007
Dear

I am man 30 years and I living in Egypt in Cairo
And I search about women for marriage from any nationality in the world the important if there
The love and happing to us and I am waiting your helping for me or your Contact me on:
fares_lawer@hotmail.com

*thanks for you on your important to subject
From fares
See you soon

Comment by fares — May 5, 2007
[…] We’re glad we could do our part… […]

Pingback by IsRealli - the State of Israel official blog » Israeli Models In International Spotlight — May 16, 2007
How do I get a copy of the Maxim Israel edition?

Comment by Tom McLeod — June 19, 2007
If you guys want/need pics, I posted a few over at The Laminated List Fantasy Draft after reading the article yesterday morning.

Comment by The Brooklyn Boy — June 20, 2007
I have never bought an issue of Maxim, but I will definitely buy this upcoming one…..GREAT IDEA!!!

Comment by Eitan Altshuler — June 20, 2007
Ah Ha, the old days tech to make impression of liberism and modesty. What a chamo who must gave that idea a promoting good will via women. I am impressed let me see their womens but with a distance. They took nations in past with the same code of honor.

Comment by Adnan Muhammad — June 20, 2007
[…] We love the fact that everyone in Israel has an opinion and we particularly love the fact that our latest efforts to promote our sexy little country have caused such a stir. The most recent story on our Maxim foray featured in Newsweek captures this debate best. […]

Pingback by IsRealli - the State of Israel official blog » Creative Critics — June 20, 2007
I look forward to Maxim on the newstand for this issue….saw her on TV today and she is a poised, smart and beautiful young lady.

Comment by albert amato — June 20, 2007
how to contact Ms. Yarden Har´el??

Comment by Marco — June 21, 2007
Is this edition available outside your country?

Comment by Beautiful Wedding — September 7, 2007
I’d like to subscribe to Maxim Israel. Please post if you know how to. Also, yes, there are very nice girls in Israel.

Comment by Exotic Destination — September 26, 2007
[…] IsRealli - the State of Israel official blog » Maximum Israel Blog About Comments Policy Contact Us RSS feed Blog Roll Maximum Israel March 22, 2007 on 10:10 am | In Face to Face, Pop Culture, Advertising & Media | Send to a friend So Maxim might not be the most intellectual monthly or the magazine of record for […]

Pingback by Maximum Pc Mag by Magazine — October 26, 2007
Shalom Israel. . .It’s so lovely to be here among my jewish brothers and sisters. Well, I’m a half jew from my mother’s side. . .What is this blog all about? tell me?

Comment by Chris L — March 14, 2008
I like the idea that you are promoting Israel’s beautiful women and I believe in fact, it will attract more men to go to Israel, but my questions is, Why do you want to attract more men and not women? It seems like your campaign is only targeting men. Are you doing anything to attract tourist women?

Comment by I like Israel — March 31, 2008