The Al-Aqsa Flood in Emirati Press Discourse: An Analytical Study of Opinion Articles in Al-Arab Newspaper
, Vol.13
, Fifty-eighth Issue
PP:32-33
Authors:
Associate Prof. Dr. Mohammud Basyouny Gebril*-Associate Prof. of Press,Press & Media Department,College of Arts & Humanities,Jazan University
Abstract:
This study seeks to critically examine the dominant framings within Emirati press discourse concerning the events of October 7, 2023 — referred to as the "Al-Aqsa Flood" — through a qualitative discourse analysis of opinion articles published in Al-Arab, a UAE-affiliated newspaper based in London. The temporal scope of the analysis extends from October 7 to December 8, 2023.
The research aims to map the discursive constructions surrounding the causes of the Al-Aqsa Flood, its ramifications across the Palestinian, Arab, and international arenas, and the solutions posited by the Emirati press for addressing the Palestinian question. It also interrogates the future scenarios projected within the discourse.
Methodologically, the study employs the media survey approach, with an emphasis on qualitative analytical techniques. Discourse analysis is utilized as the primary tool for interrogating the selected texts, while the theoretical framework is anchored in Framing Theory, which serves as the lens for interpreting the findings and identifying the latent ideological underpinnings of the discourse.
Among the key findings of the study were the following:
• Dominant among the proposed framings was the emphasis on Iran’s role in exacerbating regional conflict, alongside calls for Israel and the international community to bring an end to the Palestinian tragedy and lift the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. The Al-Aqsa Flood operation was widely portrayed as a reaction to the ongoing and systematic violations committed by the Israeli entity against the Palestinian people, thus framing the events of October 7, 2023, within a context of justified resistance.
• Regarding the discourse on the repercussions of the operation, the Emirati press prominently featured narratives such as the collapse of Western moral authority under the weight of its reaction to the Al-Aqsa Flood, and the unconditional support extended to Israel in its war against Gaza. The events in Gaza were also framed as exposing the so-called "Resistance Axis", portraying its rhetoric as mere posturing and opportunistic slogans lacking substantive commitment to the Palestinian cause. Additionally, the discourse emphasized a halt in normalization efforts with Israel, alongside a growing wave of anti-Israeli sentiment across the region.
• In terms of proposed solutions, the discourse was led by calls to revive the provisions of the Oslo Accords, particularly the establishment of a sovereign or demilitarized Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. This was coupled with efforts to restore trust in the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and integrate the Gaza Strip under its governance—presented as a comprehensive vision for resolving the Palestinian issue.
Key Words:
Al-Aqsa Flood, Emirati Press Discourse, Al-Arab Newspaper.
Research Language:
Arabic
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