Summarised by Centrist
Documents filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act show that an influencer campaign via one firm connected to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Invoices from Bridge Partners, a Washington-based firm owned by Yair Levi and Uri Steinberg, were sent to Havas Media Group Germany, which is managing the campaign. The filings list a budget of USD $900,000 (NZD $1,550,000) between June and November 2025 for what is described as an “Influencer Campaign.”
The paperwork indicates the money covers both production and influencer payments. After subtracting legal, banking, and other administrative costs through September 16, about USD $552,946 (approx. NZD $950,200) remained for influencers over that period. The campaign expected between 75 and 90 posts on TikTok, Instagram and other platforms, putting estimated per-post payments in the range of USD $6,100 to $7,300 (approx. NZD $10,500 to $12,500).
The specific influencers involved are not named, and Havas did not respond to requests for comment. The campaign is titled the “Esther Project,” though filings do not clarify whether it is related to similarly named initiatives elsewhere.
Bridge Partners has also enlisted former IDF spokesperson unit major Nadav Shtrauchler and retained Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman for legal counsel, a firm previously linked to Israeli technology companies.
