Arab-Israeli Research Articles

Mobile phone activism during Israel’s ‘Operation Guardian of the Wall’ in Gaza

The 11-day war in May 2021 between Israel and Palestine (Gaza) is worth investigating as a phenomenon of recording war testimonies and memories by civilian mobile phone users. This article explores mobile phone usage by Palestinian civilians to record and document everyday war narratives. The users document, archive and disseminate diverse war memories on various social media platforms. Semi-structured (ethnographic) interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) are included in the methodological design to understand the patterns of mobile phone activism by civilians during Israel’s Operation Guardian of the Wall in Gaza. The authors argue that the physical and digital (phygital) spaces exist simultaneously, forming the socio-psychological presence of the users in the war and making them significant stakeholders of the Israel–Palestine war narrative. The emergence of a phygital presence signifies a comprehensive representation and archive of civilian war testimonies. Users’ mobile phone footage plays a significant role in shaping discourses of dissent and mobile activism, driving and sustaining collective emotions regarding the repercussions of war. These discourses also contribute to the socio-psychological construction of a phygital memory archive, enriching the conflict’s broader narrative.

(In)Security in social media: exploring Israeli and Palestinian narratives

ABSTRACT The persistence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict profoundly influences the perceptions of both Israelis and Palestinians, shaping successive generations and posing a complex challenge for security scholarship. This article examines these contrasting socially constructed realities through the lens of Securitisation Theory, analysing public social media discourses on Facebook between 1 January 2021 and 29 April 2022 in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. By bridging high-level theorising with empirically driven methodology, the study enriches the understanding of securitisation processes using Balzacq’s framework and engaging with perspectives from Cote, Stritzel, and Vuori, including the active role of target audiences and the complexity of securitisation as a speech act. Through this approach, the research not only advances theoretical insights into Securitisation but also demonstrates that leveraging social media analysis provides both a valuable means of theory testing and a more comprehensive understanding of securitisation dynamics in the Israeli-Palestinian context.

Ethnocultural disparities in loneliness among women in Israel: A population-based study.

Loneliness was predicted for women in three ethnocultural groups in Israel: native Jews, Israeli Arabs, and Former Soviet Union (FSU) immigrants. The study was based on Lund et al.'s (2018) conceptualization of social determinant domains of mental health disorders, as in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Social determinants were demographic, economic, social-cultural, and neighborhood factors. We examined whether ethnocultural disparities in loneliness persist when controlling for social determinants in these four domains or whether ethnic disparities are related to other forms of inequality among the three study groups, as reflected in these four domains. Next, we explored associations between the co-occurrence of key social determinants with loneliness. We used cross-sectional representative data of working-age women from the Israeli Social Survey (N = 5,600). Hierarchical logistic regression analyses indicated a higher risk for loneliness among FSU immigrants and Israeli Arabs than among native Jews. Economic risk factors significantly increased the risk of loneliness. Social and cultural factors decreased the risk of loneliness, while discrimination increased it. Improved neighborhood conditions decreased the risk of loneliness. Ethnocultural disparities in loneliness diminished when economic determinants were controlled. Co-occurrence of risk factors greatly increased the risk for loneliness, demonstrating a stepped relationship. Developing supportive networks for women, mainly from minority groups, to increase trust and fight discrimination against any background is necessary. Moreover, significant efforts must be made to combat poverty and narrow socioeconomic inequalities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Resolving Israeli War Crimes Against Palestinian Civilians

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially in the context of war crimes that harm Palestinian civilians, has become the focus of world attention. The International Criminal Court (ICC), based on the 1998 Rome Statute, has jurisdiction over crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression. This research analyzes the role of the ICC in dealing with Israeli war crimes against Palestinian civilians. The ICC, as a permanent international tribunal, can try perpetrators of war crimes regardless of their official capacity in their country of origin. The ICC has the potential to provide justice for Palestinian victims of war crimes, although the challenge is to exercise jurisdiction over non-party states and ensure its decisions comply with international expectations for justice and peace

The Politics of Sacred Places: A View from Israel–Palestine by Nimrod Luz (review)

The Politics of Sacred Places: A View from Israel–Palestine by Nimrod Luz (review)

The Politics of Sacred Places: A View from Israel–Palestine. By Nimrod Luz

The Politics of Sacred Places: A View from Israel–Palestine. By Nimrod Luz

Is contact theory still valid in acute asymmetrical violent conflict? A case study of Israeli Jewish and Arab students in higher education.

Is contact theory still valid in acute asymmetrical violent conflict? A case study of Israeli Jewish and Arab students in higher education.

Study of the Problems of Determining Public Opinion of the Israeli-Palestinian War in Social Networks

This paper explores the use of neural networks for determining public opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In today's world, where numerous user opinions on various topics are posted daily on social media platforms, it is important to be able to analyze this public sentiment. The method of sentiment analysis and weighting of votes in comments is proposed, allowing for the identification of overall audience moods and assessment of their reactions to different events or content. The research results indicate the potential usefulness of these methods for marketing strategies, reputation management, and decision-making in various fields. However, there are challenges associated with data verification and consideration of manipulative interventions in public opinion. This work aims to review the current state of research in this area and identify prospects for further development. In today's digital world, analyzing public opinion on social media is becoming increasingly important. Understanding how users react to various topics and events is crucial for various fields, from marketing to politics. This paper discusses methods of sentiment analysis and vote weighting in comments using the example of analyzing public opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the Reddit social network. The use of natural language processing tools, machine learning, and data visualization allows for valuable insights into users' emotional attitudes toward discussed topics and trends in public opinion. However, to achieve the best results, it is necessary to consider not only textual content but also social interaction and user status. The development of effective social media analysis tools opens the way to a deeper understanding of public opinion and making informed decisions in various areas of social life.

Expert Commentary, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, and the Question of Genocide: Prosemitic Bias within a Scholarly Community?

Expert Commentary, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, and the Question of Genocide: Prosemitic Bias within a Scholarly Community?

Seven months into the war in Gaza: rethinking peace between Palestinians and Israelis

Rethinking the prevailing approach to peace between Palestinians and Israelis requires more than the symbolic recognition of Palestinian statehood; it means addressing the root causes of this conflict such as colonisation and occupation, as well as practical clarity on how to guarantee the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. Regional de-escalation cannot begin without a ceasefire in Gaza. In the long view, the desire to restore stability shared by most Middle Eastern countries should be seen as an opportunity to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The European Union (EU) can contribute to conflict resolution and peace by taking action against Israel’s war crimes, making the two-state solution more than an empty slogan and supporting regional de-escalation.

Media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - challenges and problems

Media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - challenges and problems

Humanity in Conflict: Examining the Roots of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Humanity in Conflict: Examining the Roots of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Why are Older Israeli Arabs not Part of the Protests Against the Judicial Reform? A Qualitative Study.

In the protests against the proposed judicial reform that began in early 2023 in Israel, the lack of participa• Policymakers should make efforts to reduce the socioeconomic gaps between older people from minority and majority groups.tion of Israeli Arabs, especially the absence of older Israeli Arabs, was noticeable. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the attitudes of older Israeli Arabs regarding the proposed judicial reform in Israel and to explore the reasons for their absence from the protests. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 older Israeli Arabs. Thematic analysis revealed two main themes. The first pertained to the attitudes of this cohort in relation to the judicial reform. Participants unanimously opposed the judicial reform and believed it could seriously harm Israeli Arabs by increasing discrimination against them in employment, housing, and the receipt of social and health services. The second theme pertained to the reasons for Israeli Arabs' nonparticipation in the protests, which included: 1) perceiving the protests as an internal Jewish conflict; 2) being accustomed to discrimination; 3) a perceived lack of political efficacy 3) having concerns about openly expressing political positions; 4) being in poor health; and 5) being a woman. Our findings provide important insights regarding the barriers to participation in politics and decision-making processes among older people in minority groups.

ATTITUDE OF INDONESIAN MUSLIMS TOWARDS PRODUCT BOYCOTT PRO-ISRAEL Analysis Of Fatwas Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Number 83 of 2023 Concerning Legal Status of Supporting the Palestinian Struggle

This study investigates the Indonesian Ulema Council Fatwa Number 83 of 2023 concerning the Legal Status of Supporting the Palestinian Struggle, aiming to evaluate public compliance with the fatwa in boycotting Israeli products and their affiliates. The Indonesian Ulema Council, an independent Islamic organization not affiliated with any political parties or specific Islamic sects, possesses the authority to issue fatwas grounded in Sharia law. Through a qualitative juridical-sociological approach, this study scrutinizes the content and ramifications of these fatwas on the Muslim community in Indonesia. The research concludes that while MUI fatwas carry informal legal significance, their implementation should consider fundamental needs and national economic repercussions. Indonesian Muslims demonstrate diverse reactions to the fatwa, with some adhering to it due to religious beliefs, while others prioritize practical necessities and business concerns over the boycott call. The prevalent support for the fatwa must be considered in the pursuit of justice for Palestinians.

SYRIAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF MODERN CRISES IN THE ARAB EAST

The purpose of the study. The article examines the positions and interests of Syria and Israel in the Syrian crisis; the problems of the impact of Israel’s new war with HAMAS on the Middle East. The current situation in the Syrian conflict and Syrian-Israeli relations are analyzed; trends and prospects for the development of relations between the SAR and Israel in the context of the escalation of the conflict. The purpose of the study is to establish and identify the role and significance of the consequences of the war between Israel and HAMAS for the Middle East, as well as its impact on Syrian-Israeli relations and their further development in the Middle East region. Conclusions. The paper presents the results of a study of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through the prism of the Syrian crisis. The author of the work examined the prerequisites and causes of the Palestinian-Israeli and Syrian conflicts, as well as analyzed the internal and external actors of the conflict in Syria. This work examines the role of Palestinians and Palestinian organizations in the Syrian civil war, examines the impact of the Syrian crisis on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, determines the degree of mutual influence of the two conflicts and shows the prospects for the development of the regional situation in their context.

Service users’ complaints concerning social workers’ professional functioning: Arabs in Israel as a case study

ABSTRACT Sparse professional literature on complaints against social workers, focuses on a few specific variables, discussing them from a universal/contextless viewpoint. This study considers such complaints as a holistic (integrative) issue which should be studied within particular contexts. The research traced service users’ complaints against social workers, investigating social workers’ conceptions concerning the extent and type of complaints, and the social workers’ coping mechanisms. A phenomenological approach elicited data from semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 social workers from Arab welfare bureaus in Israel. Findings indicated that formal complaints are rare despite many grievances (tazamur) concerning the service. There are almost no complaints concerning serious offences, because in addition to formal punishment, community cultural punishments are severe. Complaints can be lodged in eight regulatory bodies, inside or outside the bureau, distinguished as either educational or disciplinary in policy. Coping strategies (expressing internal or external loci of control) depend on the complaint type (against the system or against the social workers’ professional functioning and/or ethical behaviour) and the regulatory body’s character. A professional-ethical complaint is a context-informed pragmatic challenge that social workers should understand and be trained to consider as an opportunity for professional development.

“Adopting unsuitable solutions constitutes an additional risk factor”: Context-informed social work practice with at-risk young adult Arabs in Israel

Although previous studies regarding professional interventions with at-risk minority young adults have focused on the challenges in providing support, few have examined these needs through the perceptions of social service providers. The aim of the current study is to learn about the needs of at-risk young adult Arabs in Israel in their intersecting contexts, as well as about the challenges in addressing these needs, so as to promote context-informed practice. We conducted a qualitative study of 39 social service providers. The findings are organized according to two main themes: (1) context-informed needs, which consists of three sub-themes: personal needs, social needs, and systemic needs, and (2) challenges in addressing these needs, consisting of three sub-levels: personal, social, and systemic. The findings shed light on a significant issue concerning the context-informed approach. At the micro level, social workers are able to implement a context-informed practice, whereas at the macro level of policy formulation and implementation, social workers seem to have less control over determining the nature of policies and resource allocation. We discuss the implications of the findings for social work practice, with the aim of promoting a context-informed practice in the intersecting levels of at-risk minority young adults’ lives.

Research on Refugee Governance from the Perspective of International Law -- Taking the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict as an Example

The problem of refugee protection has existed in the international community for a long time, which is almost unavoidable for every member of the international community for its close relationship to national politics, economy, law, national security, diplomacy and so on. This paper mainly focuses on the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict to discuss the main sources of refugees and their governance dilemmas as well as attaches great importance to the protection and governance of refugees' rights and the possible improvement of international cooperation mechanisms. Responding to the refugee crisis requires greater cooperation at the regional and global levels. Finally, this paper puts forward some relevant thoughts. For example, advocating the creation of an independent Pakistan is the most effective approach. It is also important to promote peace processes such as negotiations and reconciliation, and to actively engage in international cooperation at the world level, with appropriate assistance from both States and international organizations. Hopefully, these measures can contribute to the international refugee problem through this own research.

Talking back to the wall: Problematizing trans/national media and counter-publics in border politics

This study presents a textual analysis of the discourses that emerged in Mexican national newspapers and on Twitter about Donald Trump’s calls for a border wall in 2017. As the case of Israel’s border wall became entangled in this discussion, discourse in print and social media engaged in a re-evaluation of alliances and solidarities between Mexico, the Jewish-Mexican community and Israel. The findings show print and online media discourse to be remarkably consistent in terms of the voices that were elevated, the targets of criticism, and the enabling of vilifying narratives about the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation.

Serious Games, Knowledge Acquisition, and Conflict Resolution: The Case of PeaceMaker as a Peace Education Tool

Israeli-Jews and Palestinians cannot easily be exposed to contradicting information about “the other” in the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict because of the emotionally charged situation and prevailing ethnocentrism. Serious games like PeaceMaker are used as innovative interventions for peace education. Winning PeaceMaker indicates better conflict resolution skills and developing an informative viewpoint regarding the situation, which is required for conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The evaluation of the effectiveness of prosocial games in educating about conflict and peace in the literature is severely lacking. We examine the effects of this computerized simulation of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict on enhancing knowledge about the conflict and “the other” among undergraduate players who are direct parties (i.e., Israeli-Jews and Palestinians) and third parties (i.e., Americans and Cypriots). In addition, we investigate the knowledge gap between direct parties and third parties who won and did not win the game. Using questionnaires, we conducted a quasi-experimental study with 168 undergraduates using a pre- and post-intervention research design. We found that direct parties to the conflict acquired significantly more knowledge about the other side, and third parties acquired significantly more knowledge about the conflict after playing PeaceMaker. In addition, PeaceMaker minimized the knowledge gap after playing the game among direct parties who won the game and those who did not win and increased the knowledge gap between third parties who won the game and those who did not win. Our results suggest that serious games might be effective interventions for peace education, because they appear to enhance knowledge about the conflict, and about “the other” particularly for young people who are direct parties to this divide.