The Index of Incitement against Palestinians in the Israeli media and social networks increased by 75 percent in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year and by 67 percent compared to 2021, the Nazareth-based press freedom NGO I'lam Media Center revealed on Thursday.
I’lam said that the increase in incitement is unprecedented and unusual. “It is due to the significant growth of racism following the formation of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. This is clearly reflected in the Israeli media,” it wrote.
As part of its monitoring project, the media center said it monitored 222 incitement and racism articles and news written in the Israeli media in 2021, compared to 210 articles and news in 2022.
In the same time period this year, the center said it monitored 367 articles and news of incitement and racism against the Palestinian society in general and against the '48 Palestinians' in particular.
The results of the quantitative analysis also revealed that from January 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023, the highest incitement posted were on Twitter (41%), a normal rate as Israeli politicians and journalists use mostly this application.
Also, the data showed that Israel Hayom Newspaper included 12% of incitement articles and news. The pro-Benjamin Netanyahu daily was established by American billionaire Sheldon Adelson and is distributed free of charge and in mass circulation, making it the most widely read newspaper in Israel over the years.
I’lam said in its report that the Makor Rishon newspaper published 11% of the incitement articles and news, the Maariv newspaper 8%, the “Shehret” website 8%, the Channel 7 published 4% while both Hampshire newspaper and Yediot Aharonot newspaper published each 3% of the incitement articles against Palestinians.
The results then showed that the most targeted party in the Israeli media was West Bank Palestinians (24%,) followed by the Jerusalemites (17 %), then Palestinian prisoners (15%) and then West Bank leaders (12%).
Incitement in the Israeli media against international organizations was at 4%, against Israeli left activists 3% and finally incitement against President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, was 2%.
The research also analyzed the different types of incitement expressed in the various articles and news reports. Some of them legalize the collective punishment and the use of force against the Palestinians. Others demonize the Palestinians in general, articles delegitimize Palestinians and their authorities using racist discourse, as well as emphasizing Jewish superiority and their role as a victim.
The results show that the method of incitement and racism most frequently used in the Israeli media is demonization of Palestinians (23%), the use of force against the Palestinians (22%), the legalization of collective punishment (20%), the delegitimization of the Palestinians (15%), the Jewish superiority (11%), the victimization of Jews (6%) and finally generalization (4%).
