This paper examines how Israeli Arab volunteers in the IDF are portrayed in Israeli media, particularly during the ongoing conflict with Hamas. It explores the intersection of military service and media representation, focusing on the Bedouin community as a case study due to the scarcity of research on Muslim Arabs in the IDF. Through a qualitative content analysis of 12 online news articles, the study identifies patterns in media narratives that separate Bedouins from broader Arab and Muslim identities. This research highlights the complexities of identity politics in Israel and suggests that media framing serves to reinforce national interests while potentially marginalizing other Arab Muslim groups.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Introduction and Literature Review
- Methods
- Findings
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze how Israeli Arab volunteers in the IDF are portrayed in Israeli media, particularly during the conflict with Hamas. It uses a qualitative content analysis of online news articles to understand media narratives and their impact on identity politics in Israel. The study focuses on the Bedouin community due to limited research on Muslim Arabs in the IDF.
- Media representation of Israeli Arab IDF volunteers.
- The role of identity politics in shaping media narratives.
- Comparison of media portrayals across different news outlets.
- The impact of the ongoing conflict with Hamas on media representations.
- Analysis of the separation of Bedouin identity from broader Arab and Muslim identities.
Chapter Summaries
Abstract: This abstract introduces a study examining the portrayal of Israeli Arab volunteers in the IDF, specifically focusing on the Bedouin community, within Israeli media during the conflict with Hamas. It highlights the limited existing research on this topic and the use of qualitative content analysis of online news articles to uncover patterns in media narratives and their implications for identity politics and national interests.
Introduction and Literature Review: This chapter establishes the context for the study by highlighting the unique position of Israeli Arab volunteers in the IDF, particularly within the context of ongoing conflict. It notes the relatively small number of Muslim Arab volunteers and the existing research gap regarding their portrayal in the media. The chapter reviews existing literature focusing primarily on the Druze and Bedouin communities and highlights the scarcity of studies specifically analyzing Muslim Arab representation in the IDF, indicating a need for further research in this area. It introduces the research question of how Israeli Arab volunteers are portrayed in the media, particularly during the Hamas conflict, setting the stage for the methodology and findings.
Methods: This section details the methodology employed in the study. A qualitative content analysis of 12 online news articles from Ynet and Israel Hayom, covering events related to Bedouin soldiers during the Gaza conflict, formed the data. The articles were analyzed to identify patterns and viewpoints, focusing on potential connections to broader sentiments regarding Israeli Arabs in the IDF. The use of translated articles is acknowledged for transparency.
Findings: This chapter presents the key findings of the qualitative content analysis. It identifies two main categories: the topic of the articles and the recurring theme of "opportunity." Israel Hayom focused more on individual heroism and integration, while Ynet focused on broader narratives and the implications of soldiers' identities. The "opportunity" theme centers on the potential for increased Bedouin integration into Israeli society due to shared suffering during the Hamas attacks. The near absence of explicit mention of Islam in the portrayal of Bedouin soldiers is highlighted as a significant finding, suggesting a deliberate separation from other Arab identities. The chapter concludes that the analysis of Bedouin representation in the media doesn't fully reveal the broader representation of Israeli Arab soldiers, indicating a deliberate distinction between Bedouin and other Arab communities.
Keywords
Israeli Arab soldiers, IDF, media representation, Bedouin, Hamas, identity politics, qualitative content analysis, Israel, Palestine, nationalism, integration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main topic of this language preview?
This language preview outlines a study analyzing media portrayals of Israeli Arab volunteers in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), specifically focusing on the Bedouin community, during the conflict with Hamas. The study uses qualitative content analysis to understand media narratives and their impact on identity politics in Israel.
What are the main objectives of the study?
The main objectives are to analyze media representation of Israeli Arab IDF volunteers, examine the role of identity politics in shaping media narratives, compare media portrayals across different news outlets, assess the impact of the conflict with Hamas on media representations, and analyze the separation of Bedouin identity from broader Arab and Muslim identities.
What methodology is used in the study?
The study uses a qualitative content analysis of online news articles. Specifically, it analyzes 12 articles from Ynet and Israel Hayom covering events related to Bedouin soldiers during the Gaza conflict.
What are the key findings of the study?
The study identifies two main categories in the media portrayal: the topic of the articles and the recurring theme of "opportunity." Israel Hayom focused more on individual heroism and integration, while Ynet focused on broader narratives and the implications of soldiers' identities. The "opportunity" theme centers on the potential for increased Bedouin integration into Israeli society due to shared suffering during the Hamas attacks. The study also highlights the near absence of explicit mention of Islam in the portrayal of Bedouin soldiers.
What is the significance of focusing on the Bedouin community?
The study focuses on the Bedouin community because there is limited existing research on Muslim Arabs in the IDF. Previous research has primarily focused on the Druze community.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
The keywords are: Israeli Arab soldiers, IDF, media representation, Bedouin, Hamas, identity politics, qualitative content analysis, Israel, Palestine, nationalism, integration.
Which news outlets were included in the study?
The study included online news articles from Ynet and Israel Hayom.
What is the research question that this study aims to answer?
The research question is how Israeli Arab volunteers are portrayed in the media, particularly during the Hamas conflict.
- Quote paper
- Jonas Berndt (Author), 2024, Framing Loyalty. Media Portrayals of Israeli Arab Volunteers in the IDF, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1572876
