The Goals and Forms of Media Normalization by Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya Satellite Channels in Covering the Events of October 7, 2023

Abstract

Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya satellite channels have adopted a peaceful discourse in the Arab context toward Israel, avoiding rhetoric charged with hostility toward it. They have also established a friendly and familiar environment, and removed the hostility of the Arab mentality toward the Zionist entity by avoiding the use of charged language. They have also attempted to integrate it into media communities by facilitating the appearance of Israeli regime figures on Arab screens and hosting official figures and journalists. This attempt to integrate and break the psychological barrier of Arab audiences accustomed to hostility and the complete absence of news about Israel, its society, and its political events. These two channels have thus crafted a clear discourse of normalization, or sometimes are forced to broadcast news that they believe is in the interest of the Palestinian people, but in reality, it serves the interests of the entity. This is normalization implemented forcefully and smoothly. It avoids mentioning what Arab citizens are accustomed to hearing, such as the usurping Zionist entity, instead focusing on the alternative: the State of Israel, colonies, settlements, the occupying Israeli army, the Israeli army, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. Today, we observe the creation of public opinion or a shift in perspective regarding events. This is because mass communication media, including satellite channels, "play a role in achieving alienation and deepening self-contempt, amidst the clear deterioration of the political and economic reality in the Arab world." These channels seek to deepen the spirit of surrender and defeat, and to enhance the element of superiority of the Zionist enemy.

The research will analyze two television samples: Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera, and examine the extent of normalization embedded in their news and discourse, with the aim of improving the image of the Zionist entity.