Earlier this year Stagwell CEO Mark Penn noted on an earnings call that the company would be making a harder push for government contracts, which he believes represent a huge opportunity for the company. 

Apparently that push is starting to pay off and it’s not limited to the U.S. government. 

A report by Drop Site News indicates that the firm has been hired by the Israeli Ministry Of Foreign Affairs to conduct what the publication called a “sweeping battery of surveys and focus groups, coupled with message-testing,” in a bid to help repair Israel’s tattered image in both the U.S. and Europe.   

The country’s image has taken a hit for the way it has conducted military operations in Gaza in the years since Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Some believe Israel’s response has been tantamount to genocide while others feel the country is justified in defending itself aggressively in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack.  

The Drop Site News report indicated that the work for Israel is ongoing, but it shared some preliminary findings. Stagwell recommends that Israel amplify messaging that Hamas wants to “destroy all Jews and spread jihadism,” while also promoting Israel’s women’s and gay rights policies.  

The report also indicated that Stagwell is poised to win a no-bid contract from the Department of Health & Human Services so that the latter can get a better read on Americans’ views on vaccines. It’s no secret that HHS head Robert F. Kennedy Jr is a vehement critic of vaccines, despite scientific evidence that they often save lives. 

Drop Site cited an X post by NBC News’ Jonathan Allen regarding the HHS contract. According to Allen, Stagwell’s Harris X will do that work. 

It wasn’t precisely clear which Stagwell unit was contracted to do the work for Israel.  

Stagwell didn’t respond to a request for comment on the Drop Site and Allen reports.