PALESTINIAN - ISRAELI CYBER CONFLICT: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE ISRAELI PROPAGANDA ON FACEBOOK

Abstract

The way social networks are used in Palestine often mirrors and incorporates the ongoing political and military conflict in the region; another episode which inflames this long-lasting conflict. The cyber battle has deepened and taken on new dimensions, especially on Facebook, the most widely used network in Palestine. Through a case study, this article explores the Israeli official propaganda on social networks, the most important cyber space platforms, by analyzing the official page of the Israeli Military Spokesman, Ofajaa Adraei. The study is descriptive studies and utilizes the Survey Method and Content Analysis Method (both quantitatively and qualitatively). The study identified the existence of security, military, social and religious issues on Ofajaa Adraei page, which broadcasts news and seeks to reach out to more Palestinians. The page uses different propaganda methods: creating mental images, posting some carefully selected news and using slogans. The page also addresses the issues of conflict in many ways: flexing muscles, rapprochement and exploiting the human dimension, and as such it only manages the conflict with no intention to further communicate or create a fruitful debate. The page portrays the alleged human side of the Israeli military, while demonizing the Palestinians and intimidating them.