MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND FRAMING OF THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT

The media plays a central role in shaping global perceptions of conflict. This study explores media representation and framing of the Israel-Palestine conflict using a qualitative case study approach. The objective was to examine how selected media outlets portray both parties in the conflict, identify the dominant narrative frames, and evaluate how these frames influence public understanding. Using purposive sampling, 60 media materials including newspaper articles, editorials, opinion pieces, and visual content were analyzed from outlets such as Al Jazeera, The New York Times, BBC, Haaretz, and Jerusalem Post. Data were thematically analyzed using framing theory, with attention to language, imagery, and ideological positioning. The study found that media representations were often polarized and ideologically influenced. Key frames identified included victimhood, self-defense vs terrorism, historical injustice, and humanization or dehumanization of actors. Visual media significantly amplified emotional framing. Palestinian sources tended to frame the conflict as resistance against occupation, while Israeli sources emphasized national security and defense. International outlets offered mixed or ambiguous framings. The study recommends balanced and context-rich reporting, journalist training in conflict-sensitive framing, and the promotion of media literacy among audiences. By highlighting the powerful role of media in conflict narratives, the research calls for a more responsible and empathetic media discourse.