Udo Ulfkotte (1960–2017), a German journalist and author, transitioned from a respected Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung correspondent to a bold whistleblower exposing media manipulation. With a PhD in Islamic studies, he covered the Middle East and Balkans before authoring Journalists for Hire (2014), a bestseller revealing how foreign entities, including israel’s hasbara—its public diplomacy to promote pro-israel narratives—influenced western media.
Ulfkotte criticized this as part of broader lobbying that skewed reporting on the israeli-Palestinian conflict, arguing it entangled Europe in biased foreign policies. His anti-zionist stance was labeled antisemitic by critics, but he insisted his focus was on demonstrating political influence.
His sudden death by heart attack in January 2017 at age 56, shortly after his exposés and amid reported threats and home raids, sparked suspicion of foul play among supporters. Ulfkotte’s legacy endures as a call for media integrity and transparency.
Udo Ulfkotte (German) Discusses the jewish hasbara Media Takeover Operation
