The Israeli occupation devotes significant resources to presenting its own narrative and justification for the crimes it commits against the Palestinian people—particularly through Arabic-language media platforms aimed at influencing Palestinian and Arab audiences. This strategy is designed for long-term psychological and political impact, even when applied indirectly.
Israel’s Arabic-language media spans official broadcasting authorities, television channels, online websites, and a range of social media accounts. These are often backed by government bodies or private entities with close ties to the Israeli state.
The Origins of Israeli Arabic-Language Television
Around 50 years ago, the Israeli Knesset debated the establishment of a public television station with programming beyond education. Prior to that, in 1963, a similar proposal was rejected by most parties, arguing it could fragment Israeli society. However, in 1966, an educational television station was launched.
Following the 1967 war, Israel’s occupation expanded, and the number of Arabs living under its control increased. This demographic shift prompted Israeli authorities to reconsider their stance on Arabic-language broadcasting, ultimately endorsing it as a tool of propaganda targeting Palestinians in the West Bank and inside the 1948 occupied territories.
At the time, Israeli Information Minister Yisrael Galili stated, “We must expedite the launch of broadcasts from the educational television facilities—this broadcast will be directed primarily to the areas occupied by Israel in 1967 and to Arabs within the Green Line.”
According to archived reports, Galili argued that Israeli television would help “unify the people,” counter hostile foreign broadcasts, and promote mutual understanding between Arabs and Israelis.
He noted that Syria broadcasted five hours a day, Iraq fourteen, Egypt twenty-four, and Jordan was preparing to start its own broadcasts. The anti-Israel messaging on Arab television channels had been ongoing for years—even before the Six-Day War. Galili also emphasised the popularity of television among Arabs inside the Green Line, including in cafés and public gathering spots, and noted the presence of around 6,000 private TV sets in the West Bank at the time.
Foundations of Israel’s Arabic-Language Broadcasting Strategy
From its inception, Israeli Arabic-language broadcasting operated under strict political directives. Initially run directly from the Prime Minister’s Office, it was managed separately from the rest of the Israeli Broadcasting Authority. In 1956, Israel established a dedicated Arabic Media Steering Committee to guide content.
This committee met regularly in government offices and broadcast studios to define overarching policy. Over the years, it became clear that media content was deeply aligned with the agenda of Israeli security services.
Even after the broadcasting unit was transferred to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority in the mid-1960s, its security-focused approach remained unchanged.
The core messaging aimed to portray Israel as an invincible state and to depict all forms of Palestinian resistance as futile and catastrophic. The broadcasts emphasised Israel’s technological advancements, political system, and global support—particularly from Jewish communities and Western allies.
The narrative was carefully designed to show life for Palestinians in 1948-occupied territories as improving, highlighting infrastructure projects and road developments. This was framed within a broader narrative of “Arab-Jewish coexistence” and integration.
Israel also positioned itself as a Middle Eastern nation opposing colonialism and striving for peace—framing this identity as part of its regional legitimacy.
When addressing the 1967-occupied territories (the West Bank and Gaza), Israeli media avoided acknowledging them as occupied or liberated. Instead, it highlighted supposed economic and service-sector improvements in a paternalistic and boastful tone.
Terminology was carefully controlled. Israeli media deliberately avoided linking the West Bank to Gaza, rarely used the term “Palestinian entity,” and only referred to the “Palestinian people” when absolutely necessary.
Security Infiltration and Media Manipulation
To prevent deviation from the state’s propaganda line, Israeli intelligence agencies were directly involved in staffing decisions. Representatives from the General Security Service (Shin Bet) attended recruitment meetings, conducted background checks, and approved applicants—prioritising those who aligned with security policies.
An informal hiring system emerged, privileging candidates with clean security records—often from minority groups or those with ties to Israeli security. Druze candidates were favoured over Arabs, and Christians over Muslims.
While minorities were given roles in less influential areas like religious or musical programming, they were largely excluded from decision-making roles in news or broadcasting leadership. These positions remained dominated by Jewish graduates of Israeli intelligence institutions.
i24NEWS: A Case Study in Strategic Messaging
The Israeli channel i24NEWS was founded by Frank Melloul, former executive at France 24, with financial backing from French-Israeli businessman Patrick Drahi, who also owns the Israeli cable company HOT.
The channel mirrors the France 24 model by broadcasting simultaneously in English, French, and Arabic. It employs approximately 150 journalists—most based in Israel—with others spread across international bureaus.
i24NEWS is broadcast across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, and is headquartered in Luxembourg with main studios located in the port city of Jaffa.
The channel is also accessible in Canada, various Arab countries, and is planning future expansion into the U.S. In June 2021, i24NEWS signed partnership agreements with media outlets in the United Arab Emirates, allowing full broadcast access within the country.
Politically, the channel leans heavily to the Israeli right and is known for amplifying Israel’s narrative while suppressing objectivity. During the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza, the channel described itself as “the Iron Dome of Israeli media”—a self-characterisation that revealed its propagandist role.
Legal changes were required to make the channel accessible within Israel due to ownership restrictions under Israeli communications law. In May 2017, a bill signed by over 40 Knesset members allowed foreign news channels, including i24NEWS, to be carried by local cable networks.
The Times of Israel (Arabic): A Softer Propaganda Tool
Another example is the Arabic-language version of The Times of Israel, often marketed as independent and professional, yet operating under a clear pro-Israeli framework. The platform seeks to legitimise occupation policies and polish Israel’s image before Arab readers using a soft-spoken, curated tone.
Founded in 2012 in Jerusalem by British-Israeli journalist David Horovitz, and funded by American hedge fund manager Seth Klarman, the site also received support from conservative pro-Israel groups such as CAMERA.
Launched in Arabic in February 2014, the platform claimed to provide unbiased and direct reporting for Arab audiences, citing a lack of trustworthy Israeli content in Arabic. Initially, it relied heavily on translated material from English, though later sought to hire Arabic-speaking journalists. However, the Arabic version was criticised for linguistic errors and editorial weaknesses.
Despite this, The Times of Israel became one of the most-read Israeli news websites in English, with around 9.1 million monthly users in 2021.
Social Media: The New Frontline of Arabic-Language Propaganda
Israel maintains a wide network of Arabic-language accounts across major social platforms, all aimed at improving its global image and obscuring the reality of occupation. These accounts frequently publish anti-Palestinian content designed to distort the narrative and delegitimise resistance.
The most prominent among these is the @IsraelArabic account, launched officially in 2015 under the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Managed by a team specialising in Arabic media, the account promotes Israeli policies, emphasises supposed peace efforts, and highlights technological and cultural achievements.
The @AvichayAdraee account, operated by the Israeli military spokesperson for Arabic media, is another key player. Established in 2014, it delivers short, direct military updates in both Arabic and Hebrew—often framed using Islamic religious references or culturally familiar language to appeal to Arab audiences.
These channels consistently portray the Israeli military as a force for stability and protection, using emotionally charged language such as “defending civilians” or “combating terrorism,” while attributing values like courage and compassion to occupation soldiers.
Together, these platforms deploy a form of aggressive digital diplomacy, blending religious references, cultural symbolism, and strategic messaging to normalise Israel’s occupation and criminalise Palestinian resistance.
They also engage in provocations designed to agitate Arab audiences and silence pro-Palestinian voices—framing opposition as irrational and resistance as terrorism.
