Framing narratives: media representation of metaphors and ideologies in Israel-Palestine conflict

Abstract

Media coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict employed metaphors to frame ideological narratives, attitudes, and perceptions. The study scrutinized metaphorical framing in the news discourse from October 7, 2023, to April 30, 2024, from the perspective of cognitive linguistics. Using Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory, it analyzes how The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, and CNN embedded ideological narratives through metaphorical language. Findings revealed that recurring metaphors, such as dark, lifeline, Al-Aqsa flood/storm, and black, appeared across outlets encompassing distinct interpretations and opposing stances. For example, Al Jazeera used dark to signify Israel’s occupation road to destructive consequences in the future. At the same time, The Times of Israel framed it as lost after the Hamas assault, yet seeking hope, and CNN referred to the UN court’s admission of a genocidal case against Israel, which tarnished its global image. Al Jazeera advocated for Gaza, The Times of Israel aligned with Jewish settlers, and CNN leaned toward Israeli perspectives. The study revealed how metaphorical language in news discourse reinforced ideological narratives, power dynamics, and shaped the public’s perception. A corpus-assisted approach provided empirical evidence of how language constructs identities, frames narratives, and influences political agendas.