Representations of security, peace and politics in the Israeli news discourse of Israeli newspapers, 1993-1994

The mass media, among other institutions, plays a critical role in the reproduction of socio-political and ideological discourses, which include a variety of representations. These promote social solidarity by reinforcing national identity, common beliefs and language, and forming collective memories. Since media representations are closely linked to the policies of elite institutions and to public opinion, they are especially important during transitions from war culture to peace culture.;A century of violence between Jews and Arabs has reinforced traditional Jewish myths and stereotypes, and enhanced the Israeli quest for security and desire for peace. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict shapes the socio-political and ideological discourses, reflected by the Israeli mass media.;This thesis analyzes representations of topics and actors relating to security, peace and politics by exploring news text in context, hence, the printed news discourses between 1993-1994. It focuses on the Israeli printed media before and after the signing of Oslo accords between the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in September 1993. This dramatic event marks a significant shift in Jewish history, and is defined in this study as a "transitory" breakpoint, accompanied by a national breakpoint.;Global changes in the 1990s marked the beginning of a new chapter in Middle East politics, and in Israeli-Palestinian relations, in particular. It led to the Oslo peace process, culminating in the historic signing of the Declaration of Principles on 13 September 1993. This not only entailed the mutual recognition of the State of Israel and the PLO; it also changed perceptions of the Palestinian leadership among Israelis, as reflected by the news media discourses.