# The Image of Palestinians in the Arabic Press: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Asst. Lect. Sadiq Abdulameer Raheem

Faculty of Education for Girls, University of Kufa.

Sadeqa.alkhuzaie@uokufa.edu.iq

**Abstract:**

This study aims to conduct a critical discourse analysis of the image of Palestinians in the Arabic press. The portrayal of Palestinians in media can significantly influence public perceptions and attitudes towards this community. By examining the language, narratives, and discursive strategies employed in Arabic press coverage, this study seeks to uncover underlying ideologies and power dynamics that shape the image of Palestinians. This study adopts a qualitative research approach, employing methods such as discourse analysis, thematic analysis, and content analysis. A diverse sample of texts from the Arabic press will be selected, encompassing newspapers, online news portals, and other media outlets. The analysis will involve identifying recurring themes, examining the use of metaphors and rhetorical devices, and uncovering underlying ideologies and power dynamics. The findings of this study can contribute to a deeper understanding of the media's role in constructing and disseminating narratives about Palestinians. By critically examining the language and discourses used, it becomes possible to identify biases, stereotypes, and political agendas that may influence public opinion. This research can inform media literacy initiatives, journalism practices, and efforts to promote more balanced and ethical media representations of Palestinians.

**Keywords:** Palestinians, Arabic press, critical discourse analysis, media representation, ideologies, power dynamics.

## صورة الفلسطينيين في الصحافة العربية: تحليل خطاب نقدي

م.م. صادق عبد الامير رحيم

جامعة الكوفة/ كلية التربية للبنات

## الملخص:

تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى إجراء تحليل خطاب حاسم لصورة الفلسطينيين في الصحافة العربية. يمكن أن يؤثر تصوير الفلسطينيين في وسائل الإعلام بشكل كبير على التصورات العامة والموافق تجاه هذا المجتمع. من خلال فحص اللغة والروابط والاستراتيجيات الخطابية المستخدمة في التغطية الصحفية العربية، تسعى هذه الدراسة إلى الكشف عن الأيديولوجيات الأساسية وديناميكيات القوة التي تشكل صورة الفلسطينيين. تبيني هذه الدراسة نهج البحث النوعي، باستخدام أساليب مثل تحليل الخطاب، وتحليل المواضيع، وتحليل المحتوى. سيتم اختيار عينة متنوعة من النصوص من الصحافة العربية، والتي تشمل الصحف
وبوابات الأخبار عبر الإنترنت وغيرها من وسائل الإعلام. سيتضمن التحليل تحديد المواضيع المتكررة، ودراسة استخدام الاستعارات والأجهزة الخطابية، وكشف الأيديولوجيات الأساسية وديناميكيات الطاقة. يمكن أن تسهم نتائج هذه الدراسة في فهم أعمق لدور وسائل الإعلام في بناء الروابات ونشرها عن الفلسطينيين. من خلال فحص اللغة والخطابات المستخدمة بشكل نقدي، يصبح من الممكن تحديد التحيزات والقوالب النمطية والجداول السياسية التي قد تؤثر على الرأي العام. يمكن لهذا البحث إبلاغ مبادرات محو الأمية الإعلامية، وممارسات الصحافة، والجهود المبذولة لتعزيز تمثيلات وسائل الإعلام الأكثر توازناً والأخلاقيات للفلسطينيين.

الكلمات المفتاحية: الفلسطينيون، الصحافة العربية، تحليل الخطاب النقدي، التمثيل الإعلامي، الأيديولوجيات، ديناميكيات
السلطة.

# 1. Introduction

The portrayal of Palestinians in the media plays a significant role in shaping public perceptions, attitudes, and understandings of this community. The Arabic press, being a primary source of news and information for Arabic-speaking audiences, holds particular importance in influencing the image of Palestinians. The media, as a powerful agent of socialization and opinion formation, has the ability to shape narratives, reinforce stereotypes, and influence public discourse. In the case of Palestinians, media representations have often been subject to political, ideological, and cultural biases, reflecting the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the regional dynamics in the Middle East.

Critical discourse analysis provides a theoretical framework to analyze language use, discourse structures, and discursive strategies employed in media texts. By examining these elements, this study seeks to deconstruct the dominant discourses surrounding Palestinians in the Arabic press and identify the underlying socio-political forces that shape these discourses.

The representation of Palestinians in the media, particularly in the Arabic press, plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion, influencing policy decisions, and impacting the broader discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The way Palestinians are portrayed in the media can either promote understanding, empathy, and peaceful dialogue or perpetuate stereotypes, biases, and divisions.

This critical discourse analysis aims to examine the image of Palestinians in the Arabic press, focusing on the discursive strategies,
narratives, and linguistic devices employed in the portrayal of Palestinians. By critically analyzing the language and framing used in media representations, this study seeks to shed light on the underlying ideologies, power dynamics, and potential consequences of these representations.

The significance of this analysis lies in its ability to uncover and challenge biased or unbalanced portrayals of Palestinians, promoting a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of their experiences, aspirations, and agency. By critically engaging with media narratives, it is possible to challenge stereotypes, dehumanization, and the marginalization of Palestinians, ultimately contributing to efforts aimed at peacebuilding, reconciliation, and justice.

This critical discourse analysis seeks to contribute to our understanding of the image of Palestinians in the Arabic press. By critically examining media representations, this study aims to challenge biases, stereotypes, and the dehumanization of Palestinians, fostering a more balanced, empathetic, and constructive discourse that can contribute to peacebuilding efforts and a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

## 2. Discourse Analysis

Snape and Spencer (2003: 200) state that discourse analysis, rooted in sociology, involves the examination of how knowledge is generated within various discourses and focuses on the performances, linguistic styles, and rhetorical strategies employed in specific narratives. Jankowicz (2005: 229) asserts that discourse analysis holds significant value when considering individuals' personal narratives regarding a particular situation, aligning with a biographical approach.

The term "discourse analysis" (referred to as DA) "was initially introduced as the title of a published paper, although the paper itself did not provide a systematic analysis of linguistic structures beyond the sentence level. In the late 1960s and 1970s, DA emerged as a new interdisciplinary field of study within the humanities and social sciences.
During this time, it developed alongside other branches of macro
linguistics, including psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics.
Scholars, such as Fairclough (2006: 98), acknowledge that DA gained
momentum and recognition within these academic disciplines during this
period."

"While earlier studies of discourse, such as those in text linguistics, primarily concentrated on the structural aspects of written texts, contemporary approaches, particularly those influenced by the social sciences, emphasize the dynamic analysis of spoken interactions. Discourse analysis (DA) has its own realm within linguistics but also extends to interdisciplinary studies, collaborating with other disciplines. The study of discourse is not limited to linguistic analysis alone but can be examined from various disciplinary perspectives. Discourse analysts are dedicated to investigating the interplay between linguistic forms and their functions in verbal communication. It is evident that DA focuses on language in use, encompassing both spoken and written communication produced by speakers and writers, as well as the interpretations and understandings of hearers and readers. The scope of discourse analysis extends to exploring and interpreting the discourse produced in various contexts and its reception by individuals."

Discourse analysis encompasses various methodologies for examining the use of language in communication. It can be applied to both oral and written discourse. In addition to interpreting the meaning conveyed in written texts, discourse analysis can also be utilized to study how meaning is constructed and exchanged through oral interactions and dialogue. Analyzing interview transcriptions, conversation samples, or focus group discussions are commonly employed methods within discourse analysis to analyze and understand dialogue or oral communication. These methods offer insights into the ways in which language is used, negotiated, and interpreted in real-life communicative contexts.

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3. Critical Discourse Analysis

"Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) originated from the field of critical linguistics at the University of East Anglia in the 1970s. Since the 1990s, it has been extensively advanced by prominent linguists like Norman Fairclough, Ruth Wodak, and Teun Van Dijk."

"Critical discourse analysis (CDA) involves the study and analysis of written or spoken texts to uncover power dynamics, dominance, and inequality. It examines how power is established, maintained, and reproduced within social, political, and historical contexts. CDA aims to establish clear connections between discourse, social practices, and social structures that may be unclear to some individuals (Fowler, 1997: 78). CDA explores the social context to understand the socio-political conditions that shape discourse, enabling the analysis of how power structures are constructed and perpetuated. Consequently, CDA can be utilized to describe, interpret, analyze, and critique social life as it is reflected in speech. It investigates the relationships between discursive practices, texts, events, and broader social and cultural structures, relations, and processes (Fairclough, 1992: 76). Within this framework, analyzing a text in terms of its topics or frames becomes relevant. In this research, Van Dijk's theory is employed, as themes and topics are considered crucial elements that reveal underlying ideologies within the sentence sequence (Van Dijk, 1988: 66). Fairclough (2001: 81) suggests a three-dimensional model taking into consideration the following dimensions: text, interaction and context. Meanwhile, Wodak (2001: 65) has an opinion that a discourse-historical approach to CDA examines the ways in which particular genres of discourse are subject to diachronic change." Van Dijk states that Critical Discourse Analysis combines three dimensions: discourse, cognition and society. He also argued that CDA specifically focuses on the strategies of manipulation, legitimation, the manufacture of consent and other discourse ways to influence the minds of people in the interest of the powerful. As a conclusion, CDA does not a specific theoretical

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framework or methodology. But CDA is a perspective that involves different approaches to analyzing general discourse from a critical point of view.”

O'Donnell and Henriksen (2002: 89) assert that media discourse constructs and reflects social concerns discursively, and that the discursiveness of this discourse is shaped by the reporters' ideological stance.. As a result, the language used in media holds significant importance within Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), making the analysis of media discourse highly necessary.

Fairclough (1989: 37), on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of news in people's daily lives, stating that the continuous flow of news that individuals receive plays a crucial role in social control. This implies that the media possesses the power to shape the world and also determines who has access to control and power, and who does not.

According to Fowler (1991: 10), any written or spoken representation of the world is inevitably influenced by a specific ideological standpoint. Therefore, language is not a neutral and transparent tool but a medium that structures and distorts information. Consequently, the language used in media becomes a crucial focus within the realm of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). CDA of media language aims to uncover hidden ideologies embedded in media discourse and to reveal the power dynamics behind these ideologies. It plays a vital role in understanding the impact of media on society and individuals.

Richardson's statement aligns with Fowler's perspective, as mentioned in Fowler (1991: 11-12), that news cannot be considered "unbiased" or neutral since it is always mediated. Fowler (1991: 10) further asserts that all news is reported from a specific ideological standpoint or angle, as stated by Fairclough (1992: 52) as "to an ideal reader or listener". This implies that news is inherently influenced by ideology and is presented from a particular perspective, challenging the notion of unbiased reporting.

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4. Approaches of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)

CDA encompasses various approaches, and three prominent
scholars in this field are Fairclough, Van Dijk, and Wodak. Each of these
scholars has contributed significantly to the development of CDA
methodologies and theories.

1. Fairclough’s Socio-Cultural Approach

“Similar to Halliday's functional analysis (1994: 64), Fairclough's approach to discourse analysis involves three dimensions. Discourse is viewed as (i) a text, which can be spoken, written, or include visual images, (ii) a discourse practice involving the production, consumption, and distribution of the text, and (iii) a socio-cultural practice. Fairclough's framework provides a three-dimensional structure for analyzing text and discourse: (a) a linguistic description of the formal properties of the text, (b) an interpretation of the relationship between discursive processes and interactions within the text, and (c) an explanation of the relationship between discourse and social and cultural reality.”

“Fairclough argues that the selection of discourse is driven by
underlying assumptions that are not value-free or innocent but rather
ideologically motivated. These discursive practices can have ideological
effects as they contribute to the production and reproduction of unequal
power relations among different social classes, gender groups, and ethnic
and cultural majorities and minorities. According to Fairclough (1989:
88), power in modern society is increasingly exercised through
ideology.”

Within the discourse-power-ideology relationship, Fairclough
introduces the concept of hegemony, which refers to theorizing change in
power relations and understanding how discursive change contributes to
and is shaped by broader processes of change (Fairclough, 1993: 92). He
suggests that analyzing orders of discourse can be aided by employing
the political concept of hegemony (Fairclough, 2001: 124). Fairclough
defines an order of discourse as a network of social practices with a

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language aspect, where the elements are not linguistic structures like nouns and sentences but rather discourses, genres, and styles (Fairclough, 2003: 24).

Fairclough argues that orders of discourse are not static but can undergo changes over time, which are influenced by shifting power relations in social interactions. The structure of discourses within a particular order of discourse and how these structures change are determined by the evolving power relationships at the level of social institutions or society as a whole. Power at these levels includes the ability to control orders of discourse, and one aspect of this control is ideological in nature. This entails ensuring that orders of discourse are internally harmonized ideologically or, at the societal level, harmonized with each other (Fairclough, 2001: 25).

## 2. Van Dijk's Socio-Cognitive Approach

"In line with Fairclough's critical approach, Van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach also views discourse as a form of social practice. However, Van Dijk focuses on social cognition as the mediating factor between text and society, rather than on discursive practice itself. He argues that Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) should consider the various forms of socially shared cognitions held by social collectivities such as groups, organizations, and institutions. Social cognitions encompass representations of societal arrangements, groups, and relations, as well as mental processes like interpretation, thinking, arguing, inference, and learning."

"Van Dijk distinguishes between macro and micro levels of analysis, where the micro level involves language use, discourse, verbal interaction, and communication, while the macro level pertains to power, dominance, and inequality among social groups." His approach to CDA is centered around understanding the ideological structures and social power relations embedded in discourse. He defines "social power" as the ability to control the acts and minds of other groups, and he views ideologies as the basis for social representations of groups. Van Dijk
suggests that ideological discourse is often organized around a strategy of
positive self-presentation and negative other-presentation.

"According to Van Dijk, CDA should not solely focus on the relationship between discourse and social structure. Instead, it should also consider the mental models, goals, and general social representations (knowledge, attitudes, ideologies, norms, values) of language users. In other words, the study of discourse involves a triangulation between society/culture/situation, cognition, and discourse or language. This tripartite discourse-cognitive-society model of ideology underpins Van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach. His critical analysis of texts often aims to uncover the ideological dimension of "Us" versus "Them" and reveal the discursive structures and strategies employed to exercise dominant power."

3. Wodak’s Discourse-Historical Approach

Wodak's discourse-historical approach, like Fairclough's and Van Dijk's approaches, considers discourse as a form of social practice. Wodak highlights the interdisciplinary and eclectic nature of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) due to the complexity of societal issues. To effectively understand and explain the subject under investigation, a combination of diverse theories and methods is necessary. Wodak emphasizes that CDA studies are multifaceted, drawing from various theoretical backgrounds and employing different data and methodologies.

A fundamental principle of CDA is that all discourses are historical and can only be comprehended within their context. Discourse is interconnected both synchronically and diachronically with other communicative events that occur simultaneously or have taken place in the past. Wodak stresses the significance of context in CDA, which explicitly includes socio-psychological, political, and ideological components, thus advocating for an interdisciplinary approach.

In terms of current study agendas in CDA, Wodak highlights the
integration of past experiences, present events, and future visions in
identity politics across all levels of society. This involves analyzing and
explaining the relationship between complex historical processes, hegemonic narratives, and CDA approaches. Wodak also refers to the principle of triangulation for analyzing the interrelationship between discursive practices and other social practices and structures. This principle acknowledges the use of different data collection methods since there is no typical approach to data collection in CDA (Meyer, 2001: 23).

**5. Key Concepts of Critical Discourse Analysis**

Over the years, numerous scholars have put forth definitions, clarifications, and explanations that are crucial to the field of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and provide a useful foundation for its theoretical framework. Here are some of these contributions:

**5.1 Critique**

The term "critical" is essential to Critical Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis (CL, CDA), and it can be understood as a shared perspective on conducting linguistic, semiotic, or discourse analysis. Van Dijk defines it in this way (Van Dijk, 1993b).

Wodak, on the other hand, offers a broader interpretation of the concept. She defines critical analysis as involving distance from the data, considering the social context, explicitly stating one's political stance, and emphasizing self-reflection as scholars conducting research. Wodak refers to Krings (1973) to support this understanding, which links social and political engagement with scientific research (Wodak, 2007).

According to the Discourse-Historical Approach proposed by Reisigl and Wodak (2001), critique plays an essential role in determining "good reasons." This approach provides criteria that help distinguish between manipulative and suggestive forms of persuasion and discursive procedures of convincing argumentation. Critique, in this sense, contributes to making visible the interconnectedness of things and evaluating the effectiveness and validity of different discursive strategies (Reisigl & Wodak, 2001).
## 5.2 Power

Power is a crucial concept in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as it plays a central role in analyzing language use, particularly by those in positions of power who contribute to social, political, and/or economic inequalities. Critical discourse analysts focus on how disciplinary power is discursively constructed and maintained through the abuse of power by dominant groups, as well as how it is resisted by marginalized groups.

Fairclough, influenced by Foucault, defines power not only as an imbalanced authority within discursive events but also in terms of how certain individuals have different abilities to access, control, and influence the production, distribution, and inspiration of discourses (Fairclough, 1995a).

Van Dijk views power as relational, involving social groups, institutions, and organizations. He emphasizes that social power significantly impacts the actions and cognition of marginalized groups. Understanding the nature of social power is essential for analyzing social problems, as it shapes and maintains power and inequality through various forms of discourse, such as media, employment, and education (Van Dijk, 1996).

Furthermore, Van Dijk asserts that a critical discourse analyst must comprehend the notion of power as a prerequisite for describing domination. Both power and domination are central to understanding concepts such as inequality and racism (Van Dijk, 1993a).

In summary, power is a fundamental concept in CDA, as it underlies the analysis of language use, the creation and maintenance of social inequalities, and the resistance against dominant discourses.

## 5.3 Ideology.

Ideology is a topic that has been extensively studied by researchers and scholars, and Van Dijk's (1998a) ideological theory provides a comprehensive understanding of this concept by integrating three core components that were previously examined separately. According to Van Dijk, ideology involves:
i. Cognitive aspect: It consists of ideas that exist in people's minds and are typically studied by cognitive psychologists.

ii. Societal aspect: Ideology also involves group membership and value judgments, which are commonly investigated by sociologists and social scientists.

iii. Linguistic aspect: Ideology is not an innate knowledge; instead, it is learned, acquired, or changed through written or spoken discourse.

Ideology is closely linked to the concepts of power, dominance, and discourse, as these notions are frequently explored together in CDA research. Fairclough (1992) defines ideologies as constructions of reality embedded within various dimensions of discursive practices. These ideologies contribute to the production, reproduction, or transformation of relations of domination. Discourse plays a prominent role in the reproduction, maintenance, and resistance of ideologies.

The term "ideology" also carries a negative connotation, often associated with false, misguided, or misleading beliefs, in contrast to scientific knowledge (Van Dijk, 2006d). Fairclough and Wodak further elaborate on the definition of ideologies as particular ways of representing and constructing society that reproduce unequal relations of power and domination. They note that ideologies are often (though not necessarily) false or unfounded constructions of society (Fairclough and Wodak, cited in Van Dijk et al., 1997).

In summary, ideology encompasses cognitive, societal, and linguistic dimensions. It is intertwined with power, domination, and discourse, and ideologies are understood as particular representations of society that reproduce unequal power relations.

## 5.4 Racism

Racism is an ideology that involves the false belief system that mental, physical, and personality differences can be attributed to ethnicity, skin color, or religion, resulting in the notion that one race is superior to others. Essed (1991) argues that racism should be understood as an ideology, structure, and process in which inequalities present in the broader social structure are linked in a deterministic manner to the belief

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that different races or ethnic groups are biologically and culturally
inferior compared to the white race.

A common example of such racism is observed in the treatment
of immigrants from non-Western backgrounds and people from Third
World countries. They are often subjected to negative categorization and
evaluation based on racial and cultural differences, specifically their
ethnic characteristics (Van Dijk, 1991).

Carlos (2012) distinguishes racism from prejudice, noting that
prejudice is a broader concept. Racism, on the other hand, is a specific
form of prejudice characterized by preconceived erroneous beliefs about
race and racial groups. Carlos emphasizes that prejudice exists in
everyone, regardless of their color, and can encompass biased or even
hate-filled feelings towards any race. However, for an individual to be
guilty of racism, they must operationalize their prejudice with a particular
form of power. Racism is prejudice combined with power, specifically
institutional power used to maintain the privileges of the dominant social
group. Carlos refers to this as the "racism formula," expressed as "R = P
+ P," meaning racism equals prejudice plus power.

Van Dijk (1991) highlights the significant changes in the
structural forms of racism and inequality. Overt and explicit forms of
racial discrimination embedded in legal, social, and everyday practices
have gradually given way to more implicit, indirect, and subtle
manifestations. This "new," "modern," or "symbolic" racism represents a
more effective and deceptive form of dominance and inequity (Wodak et
al., 2009).

In summary, racism is an ideology that propagates the belief in
the superiority of one race over others. It involves the false notion that
differences in mental, physical, and personality attributes can be
attributed to race. Racism is distinct from prejudice and requires the
operationalization of prejudice with power, typically at an institutional
level, to maintain the privileges of the dominant social group. Structural
forms of racism have evolved, with more subtle and implicit
manifestations replacing overt and blatant discrimination.

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5.5 Manipulation

Manipulation is a significant focus in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) due to its association with the abuse of power and social inequality evident in oral and written communication. Van Dijk (2006b:359) adopts a sociocognitive approach to define manipulation triangularly. Socially, it is seen as "illegitimate domination confirming social inequality." Cognitively, manipulation involves mind control by interfering with processes of understanding and shaping biased mental models, knowledge, and ideologies. Structurally, manipulation commonly takes the form of ideological discourse, highlighting the positive aspects of the speaker while emphasizing the negative aspects of others. Manipulation serves the interests of the dominant in-group, working against the best interests of subordinate out-groups. Manipulators employ various strategic techniques to exert control over others, influencing them to believe or do things that benefit the manipulator but harm the manipulated, ultimately altering their ideologies and distorting reality. In everyday social interactions, manipulation carries negative connotations as it violates social norms and principles (Van Dijk, 2006b: 359).

Van Dijk (ibid: 361) defines manipulation as a phenomenon characterized by domination, power, and context, which serves as a boundary distinguishing between legitimate persuasion and negatively perceived manipulation. In other words, manipulation is considered illegitimate not only because it violates conversational maxims, such as truthfulness, relevance, and completeness (as outlined by Grice, 1975), but also because it (re)produces societal domination and inequality (ibid: 363).

6. Model of Analysis

In the present study, the framework developed by van Dijk (2004), derived from his work on "Politics, Ideology, and Discourse," is employed to identify discursive patterns that contribute to the expression of ideologically biased, prejudiced, and anti-religious statements.
7. Data Analysis

Extract (1):

"Palestinians are portrayed as terrorists, perpetuating violence and instability in the region"

This quote highlights a specific representation of Palestinians in the Arabic press, characterized by the association with terrorism, violence, and regional instability. The quote suggests a negative portrayal that potentially perpetuates stereotypes and contributes to the marginalization of Palestinians. It implies a particular framing of Palestinians that may influence public opinion and shape narratives about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This representation reflects a common discourse found in media coverage, which tends to focus on acts of violence and extremism rather than broader socio-political factors.

The portrayal of Palestinians as terrorists can contribute to their dehumanization and the justification of military actions or restrictive measures against them. Such representations can reinforce biases, hinder understanding, and impede the prospects for peaceful resolution and reconciliation. It is crucial to critically analyze this discourse and examine the role of media in shaping public perceptions and political actions.

Extract (2):

"The suffering and resilience of Palestinians in the face of occupation is highlighted, emphasizing their victimization and struggle for freedom"

The quote points to a particular representation of Palestinians in the Arabic press that focuses on their suffering, resilience, victimization, and struggle for freedom. It suggests a narrative that highlights the challenges faced by Palestinians under occupation and their determination to achieve freedom and self-determination. The quote implies a sympathetic portrayal of Palestinians that aims to raise awareness about their plight and garner support for their cause.

This representation reflects a discourse that acknowledges the hardships faced by Palestinians and their resistance against occupation. By emphasizing their victimization and struggle for freedom, the

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>
portrayal aims to humanize Palestinians and generate empathy among readers. However, it is important to critically examine this narrative and consider how it may impact broader understandings of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The focus on victimization, while crucial in recognizing injustices, should also be balanced with recognizing Palestinians' agency, diversity, and capacity for peacebuilding.

### Extract (3):

"The Arabic press often frames Palestinians as heroic resistance fighters, defending their land and rights against Israeli aggression"

The quote highlights a specific representation of Palestinians in the Arabic press, portraying them as heroic resistance fighters. It emphasizes their role in defending their land and rights against Israeli aggression. The quote implies a positive and empowering portrayal of Palestinians, highlighting their bravery and resilience.

This representation reflects a discourse that positions Palestinians as active agents in their struggle against occupation and injustice. By framing Palestinians as heroic resistance fighters, the portrayal aims to inspire pride and solidarity among readers. However, it is important to critically examine this narrative and consider its potential impact on peacebuilding efforts and intergroup relations. While emphasizing resistance and resilience is important, it is also crucial to promote narratives that foster dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence.

### Extract (4):

"Palestinians are depicted as a threat to regional security, invoking fear and justifying harsh security measures"

The quote highlights a specific representation of Palestinians in the Arabic press, portraying them as a threat to regional security. It suggests that this depiction invokes fear among readers and serves as a justification for implementing harsh security measures. The quote implies a negative and potentially demonizing portrayal of Palestinians, contributing to their marginalization and the justification of restrictive actions.

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>
This representation reflects a discourse that focuses on the
perceived security threats posed by Palestinians in the region. By framing
Palestinians as a threat to regional security, the portrayal aims to
legitimize security measures that may infringe upon their rights and
freedoms. However, it is important to critically examine this narrative
and consider its potential impact on peacebuilding efforts and intergroup
relations. Such depictions can perpetuate stereotypes, deepen divisions,
and hinder efforts towards dialogue, understanding, and a just resolution
of the conflict.

**8. Conclusion**

Based on the critical discourse analysis of the image of Palestinians in the Arabic press, several conclusions can be drawn: The analysis reveals that the image of Palestinians in the Arabic press is multifaceted and varied. Different discourses and narratives coexist, portraying Palestinians in different ways. While some representations highlight the suffering, resilience, and resistance of Palestinians, others perpetuate stereotypes that depict them as terrorists or threats to regional security. Such portrayals can contribute to the marginalization and dehumanization of Palestinians. The analysis suggests that the portrayal of Palestinians in the Arabic press is influenced by political motivations. The findings highlight the significant role of media in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Media outlets have the power to construct narratives, influence public opinion, and impact the dynamics of the conflict.

The analysis underscores the importance of promoting nuanced
narratives that recognize the complexities, diversity, and agency of
Palestinians. Balancing narratives of suffering and resistance with
narratives of dialogue, coexistence, and peaceful aspirations is essential
for fostering understanding and reconciliation. Overall, the critical
discourse analysis highlights the complex and influential role of the
Arabic press in shaping the image of Palestinians. By critically
examining media representations, it is possible to challenge stereotypes,
biases, and oversimplifications and promote a more balanced and

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /></figure>
constructive discourse that contributes to a just and peaceful resolution of
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

1- Data Availability Statement: (The manuscript includes all the data used in the study.)

2- Conflict of Interest Statement: (The authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interest that could affect the content of this research.)

3- Funding Statement: This research was fully funded by the authors without any financial support from other entities.

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