Framing the fracture: Israeli media,peace journalism,and the intercommunal unrest of May 2021

Abstract

This article examines how three Israeli news websites – Ynet, N12, and Haaretz – framed the intercommunal violence of May 2021. Using a mixed-method framing analysis of 70 headlines guided by peace journalism principles, the study reveals a profound ideological divide. Mainstream outlets Ynet and N12 employed symmetrical “both-sides” frames and promoted coexistence, aligning with a “negative peace” approach focused on restoring order. This strategy, while de-escalatory, obscured the conflict’s structural roots. In contrast, the elite-liberal Haaretz used asymmetrical frames, highlighting Palestinian victimhood and the power imbalances driving the unrest, consistent with a “positive peace” framework that prioritizes justice. The findings demonstrate a critical tension between journalism that maintains an unjust status quo and journalism that challenges it. The study illuminates how media choices in a divided society can either reinforce or contest dominant narratives, with significant implications for social reconciliation.